Knowledge On Sex Determination Using Condylar Process Width On Left Side In South Indian Population- A Short Study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study is to identify gender using the width of the left side of the mandibular condylar process. Introduction: Forensic anthropology is the branch of forensic science which deals with the physical anthropology of the dead remains and helps in the analysis of the skeletal remains with the anatomical knowledge. The mandible is the strongest and the hardest bone of the skull which remains intact. It provides the accurate information to whom it belongs and its has the greater sexual dimorphism among the other skeletal structures. The condyle is the growing interest of the anthropologist because they eventually reported that the condylar width of males is comparatively more than that of females. Sex determination in forensic is foremost because the age and the stature are resting on each other.To do sex determination, the dead remains and the state of dimorphism play a critical role. There is paucity in literature regarding the width of the condylar process in gender determination. Materials and methods: The study consisted of 60 individuals (30 males, 30 females, Age group: 22- 25 years). This study was performed using Orthopantomographs images acquired from patients who were chosen for a variety of dental complaints and needed to be viewed with OPG. The research plan was confirmed by the administration of the Faculty of Dentistry. The study was carried out at the Department of Forensic odontology, Saveetha Dental college, Chennai. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20. Regression analysis and chi square tests were performed. Plan maker software was utilized for measuring the condylar process width from OPGs. Results: The mean absolute error of the study came out to be 1.121. The standard deviation for male is 1.63 and for females is 1.69. Chi- square analysis for gender determination was found to be insignificant. One way anova analysis for gender determination is and it was found to be insignificant. Males have higher condylar process width compared to females. Discussion: Ramesh et al in their study suggested that the parameters such as condylar height and coronoid height using orthopantomographs are reliable in gender determination and concluded that the condylar height of the right side is the best parameter in gender determination In the present study of the chi square analysis, one way anova analysis was found to be insignificant. But the condylar process width (left side) of the males were comparatively higher than females. Therefore, this ideology could help in sex determination. Conclusion: Within the limits of the study it can be concluded that condylar process width ( left side) of male were comparatively higher than females. But the study is not significant due to Sample insufficiency and less time duration. Since this study was circumscribed to a particular region and population, with more sample size, extended period of time for analysis and with different ethnicity can make the study significant.