COMPARISON OF SACRAL INDEX AND KIMURA BASE WING METHOD TO DETERMINE THE SEX OF SACRUM

BACKGROUND The sacrum (Vertebra Magnum) is a large, flattened, triangular bone present at the base of spine, which is formed by fusion of sacral vertebra S1 to S5 and the fusion occurs between the age group of 18 to 30 years. It forms the posterosuperior part of bony pelvis articulating on either side with the corresponding hip bone at the sacroiliac joint. The dimensions of sacra vary in different sexes. Determination of sex of sacrum can be done by using various methods. In our study, comparison was done between sacral index and Kimura base wing method. MATERIALS AND METHODS A study to determine the sex of sacrum was carried on 50 sacra (25 male and 25 female sacra) by two methods. One method used was sacral index and the other method was Kimura's base wing index. The measuring instrument used was sliding vernier caliper. Sacral index- the well-known method for determination of sex from sacrum and Kimura’s base wing method- another method for sex determination. Both are compared. The method of sacral index showed more accuracy rate as compared with Kimura's base wing index method. RESULTS By using sacral index, the % of bone identified as male sacrum was 64% and the % of bone identified as female sacrum was 68%. By using Kimura base wing method, 28% of male sacra and 24% of female sacra were identified in right side and 24% of male sacra and 20% of female sacra were identified in left side. CONCLUSIONS In our study, comparison was done between sacral index and Kimura base wing method in determining the sex of sacrum. From the above study, it was found that the method of sacral index showed more accuracy rate as compared with Kimura's base wing index method.