The radiographic breadth of the talus bone for forensic and clinical use

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The accurate identification of unknown human remains plays a critical role in natural disaster scenarios and medico-legal cases in forensic anthropology and forensic medicine. This study aimed to determine normal reference values for the breadth of the talus bone using ankle radiographs from a Teaching Hospital in Delta State, Nigeria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study retrospectively reviewed 107 digital ankle radiographs from patients aged 20 to 60 years (60 males and 47 females). Ethical clearance was obtained before accessing the digital images archived in a radiological unit of a Hospital in Delta State, Nigeria. The talus breadth was measured using digital calipers and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to compare the means based on gender and age. The association of variables was done using the Pearson’s correlation test. Statistical significance was considered at P < 5%. RESULTS: The mean talus breadth was significantly larger in males (41.76 mm) than in females (38.59 mm). However, the means had no significant association with age. The right talus breadth had a strong positive correlation with the left talus breadth. CONCLUSION: The findings are useful to orthopedic surgeons managing ankle pathologies. In addition, the study reveals the potential use of the talar breadth in sex determination when other methods are inconclusive.

Keywords

• breadth
• forensic
• orthopedic
• sexual dimorphism
• talus