The Relationship between Sternum Dimensions with Age and Sex and Use it in Identification of Patients Over 18 Years of Age Referred to Department of Radiology at Amiralmomenin Hospital of Zabol

The determination of age and sex has an essential role in the detection of unidentified skeletal remains, which is one of the most important tasks of anthropologists and bioarcheologists. The sternum size can be useful in determining age and sex when the size of important bones such as the hip, the skull and long bones of limbs are not available. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between sternum dimensions with age and sex in patients referred to department of radiology, Amiralmomenin hospital of Zabol and it can be used in forensic medicine and identification. In this study, 150 patients, 87men (58%) and 63 women (42%) participated who referred to radiology department of Amiralmomenin hospital of Zabol in second six months of 2017.the age range of patients was between 19-86 . CT (Computed Tomography) images were taken from the patients. The length, width and thickness of manubrium and body of sternum were measured. The collected data were analyzed using spss21by correlation and cross tab. The results showed that the average length of sternum in men was higher than women. In 36.8% of men, the sternum length was above 100 mm, whereas this was observed in 3% of women. The length (p value = 0.169) and thickness (p value = 0.237) of manubrium did not show significant difference between two sexes, but the average width of manubrium was higher in men. The average length, width and thickness of sternum body were higher in men versus women. Because the men had a longer sternum length, the average sternum index for them was lower than women. Sternum is a useful element in determining sex and it is not trusted element in age estimate in people who are over 18 years of age. The length, width and thickness of sternum body differed in both sexes and total length of sternum was the best sex separation factor. The difference between male and female sternum has great importance in forensic studies.