title: Determination of sex from radiographic measurements of the humerus by discriminant function analysis in Saudi population, Qassim region, KSA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diagnosis of sex from skeleton or individual bone plays an important role in identifying unknown bodies, parts of bodies or skeletal remains for forensic purposes. This study aims to examine the applicability of the measurements taken from the humerus to assess sex, and to contribute to establishing discriminant function equations for Saudi populations for medico legal applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Archived X-ray radiographs of humerus for 387 patients (216 males & 171 females) who attended the orthopedic clinics at Suleiman Al-Habib Hospital, Qassim region, KSA in the period from January 2011 to December 2013 were reviewed and analyzed. Five dimensions, including maximum length, vertical head diameter, diameter of head+greater tubercle, right-left diameter at midshaft, and epicondylar breadth were taken and subjected to Univariate and multivariate discriminant function analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The studied radiographic dimensions of the humerus indicate that there are significant differences (p<0.05) between the males and females measurements while the difference between right and left measurements was not significant. The findings revealed that the proximal part of the humerus has greater diagnostic accuracy than distal and middle parts. Accuracy of correct classification varies between 68.0% (epicondylar breadth) and 90.4% (vertical head diameter) for univariate analyses. When the multivariate analyses were conducted, three functions were produced, with the accuracy of ranging between 88.4% and 94.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggested that the dimensions of the humerus, especially the measurements taken from the proximal parts, could be used successfully for sex diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Medicine College, Qassim University, Al Quassim, Saudi Arabia; Suleiman Al Habib Hospital, Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: fahad.alshehri@ucm.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Fahad Al
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Shehri
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical Sciences Department, Pathology & Forensic Medicine Unit, Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia; Forensic Medicine & Clinical Toxicology Department, Sohag College of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt. Electronic address: dr_ksayed@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Khaled E A
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Soliman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D054881:Sex Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Discriminant function analysis; Forensic anthropology; Forensic anthropology population data; Humerus; Sex determination