The Accuracy of Sex Estimation on Metatarsal Bones in a Northeastern Thai Population

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to evaluate the accuracy of sex estimation by discriminant analysis and stepwise discriminant analysis equations generated from metatarsal bones in a Thai population.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The testing samples utilized in this study consisted of 50 skeletons (25 males and 25 females) obtained from the Khon Kaen University Skeletal Collection, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. Seven measurements of metatarsal bones were measured in centimeters, using either a mini-osteometric board (MOB) or a sliding caliper. The values measured from the Khon Kaen Skeletal Collection were used to determine the accuracy and applicability of sex determination, as predicted by Y1-Y6 equations which were generated from a Chiang Mai Skeletal Collection.
RESULTS: The percentage of sex determination accuracies predicted from the Y1-Y6 equations demonstrated accuracy rates of 80-95.6.
CONCLUSIONS: The Chiang Mai sex determination equations, generated from metatarsal bones by discriminant analysis (Y1-Y3) and stepwise discriminant analysis (Y4-Y6), demonstrated high accuracy rates of prediction, suggesting that these equations may be useful for sex determination within the Thai population.
KEYWORDS: Foot; Metatarsal bones; Sex determination; Thailand