Abstract

Background:


The pelvic bone is the most reliable sexually dimorphic bone in humans, and most accurate in determining age and sex


Materials and Methods


This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Radiology Department of Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Nigeria. Pelvic radiographs of 175 males and 169 females, aged 25 to 50 years were used to measure angles in degrees. Data obtained was statistically analysed using GraphPad Prism. Basic descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and range) summarised data. Independent sample t-test, paired sample t-test, pearson’s correlation and multiple logistic regression analysis were conducted with statistical significance pegged at p-value < 0.05.


Results


There were significant sex differences in all pelvic angles. Right pubic ramus angle and left pubic ramus angle were significantly higher (p-value < 0.05) in males while subpubic angle, right X angle and left X angle were significantly higher (p-value < 0.05) in females. Significant side difference was observed in bilateral pelvic angles except for X angle in males. There was no association between the pelvic angles and age. Sex can be accurately determined applying multiple logistic regression models with subpubic angle and X angles serving as better sex predictors.


Conclusion


Male pelvis has a greater pubic ramus angle than females, whereas female pelvis has greater subpubic and X angles than males. The subpubic angle and X angles revealed impressive accuracy levels in sex determination, exceeding eighty percent.