Original Article

Year : 2021 | Volume : 6 | Issue : 1 | Page : 13 - 6

Predictive Accuracy of Mandibular Ramus Flexure as a Morphologic Indicator for Gender Determination: A Radiographic Study

Asma Maniyar, Prashant Patil, Vajendra Joshi, K R Kiran Kumar, R T Shilpa

From the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Navodaya Dental College, Raichur, Karnataka, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Prashant Patil, E‐mail: prashantomdr@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction:

In forensic medicine, the identification of age and gender is an initial step and it plays a vital role in determining one’s identity. The skeletal components most often investigated for gender determination are pelvis and skull, with the mandible being a practical element to analyze sexual dimorphism in the fragmented bones. Mandibular ramus can be used to differentiate between sexes and it also expresses strong univariate sexual dimorphism.

Aim:

Determination of gender by using mandibular ramus posterior flexure.

Materials and Methods:

A radiographic retrospective study was conducted on 25 male and 25 female Orthopantomographs taken in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. Strict exclusion criteria were applied in selecting images. The images were taken using digital panoramic x‐ray machine ORTHOPHOS – XG5‐Sirona Dental System, Germany (68kvp, 8ma, 14.1 s). To process the images and mark, the location for analysis SIDEXES software was used. Each image was examined for the presence of a flexure on the posterior border of the ramus, which was carefully delineated and the occlusal plane marked, guided by the height of cusp tips of the mandibular molars.

Results:

In the present study, we observed the overall accuracy using mandibular ramus posterior flexure was 64% in the determination of gender with P = 0.0032. The predictive accuracy was higher for females compared to males.

Conclusion:

Mandibular ramus flexure can be considered as supplementary rather than definitive mean of sex determination. Hence, it is better to include as many parameters as possible for attaining the accuracy.

Key Words: Gender determination, mandibular ramus flexure, orthopantomographs

How to cite this article:

Maniyar A, Patil P, Joshi V, Kumar KR, Shilpa RT.Predictive accuracy of mandibular ramus flexure as a morphologic indicator for gender determination: A radiographic study. J Forensic Odonto 2021;6:13-6.