Method for Quantitative Assessment of Olecranon Fossa Using 3D Hand-held Laser Scanner in the Field of Forensic Anthropology

Abstract

The study is based on a creation of virtual model of olecranon fossa through 3D visualization and its usage as a sex discriminant. The study was focused on an assessment of 135 complete humeri from 47 females and 88 males. The surface of olecranon fossa was captured in a 3D image, using a Hand-held Laser Scanner (FastSCAN). The result was a 3D shape comprising two tetrahedrons with a common apex and a common lateral face. This 3D model was determined by five landmarks: the most superior point of the olecranon fossa, the most lateral point of the olecranon fossa seen on the posterior surface, the most medial point of the olecranon fossa, the point on the inferior edge of the olecranon fossa, directly in the middle, and the deepest point into the fossa. Therefore, the volume of the virtual model was equal to the total of the volumes of these two tetrahedrons. The results were processed with SPSS 17.0 using Discriminant Function Analysis. The percentage of cases classified correctly is 92.5% according to the sex determination. This study demonstrates a 3D method which can be used successfully for sex determination, especially in case of highly fragmented bones that impede traditional anthropometric analyses.