Virtual Morphometry of the First Lumbar Vertebrae for Estimation of Sex Using Computed Tomography Data in the Turkish Population

Introduction It may be necessary to make sex estimation by examining other bones that have been obtained intact. Vertebrae, especially the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, are among the best-preserved skeletal elements from the forensic and archaeological point of view. Therefore, lumbar vertebrae can become an important skeletal element for sex estimation. In our study, measurements were made on the CT images of the first lumbar vertebra, and the accuracy of sex estimation from the L1 vertebra was investigated in the Turkish population. Materials and methods Three dimensional (3D) models of the L1 vertebra were created from CT images of 241 (121 females and 120 males) individuals. Twenty-two linear measurements were taken in lateral, anterior, and superior views of 3D models of the L1 vertebra. Univariate and multivariate discriminant function analyzes were applied to the measured parameters to determine predictive rates of sex. Intra- and interobserver errors were calculated. Results All linear measurements were higher in males than females. All parameters excluding SCD (Spinal canal depth), PLu (Upper pedicle length), PLI (Lower pedicle length), AHi (Inferior articular process height), and SPH (Spinous process height) showed statistically significant differences between sex. The highest rate of 70.5% was obtained for the EPWu (Upper end-plate width) and EPWl (Lower end-plate width) parameters. When all variables of L1 vertebra were included in the stepwise discriminant analysis, correct prediction rates were determined as 72.6%. Conclusion Our study is the first study in which L1 vertebrae are examined with the purpose of sex estimation in the Turkish population and we think that our data will be an important reference for sex estimation from the L1 vertebra in the Turkish population.