Volumetric Analysis of Carpal Bones by Sex with 3D Slicer Software Program

Abstract

In this study, we aim to share the volumes of the carpal bone and the ratio of these volumes to the total volume of wrist bones from Computed Tomography (CT) images obtained from individuals of different ages and sex using 3D Slicer. Right wrist CT images of 0.625 mm slice thickness of 42 healthy individuals (21 female, 21 male) of both sexes were included in our study. Volume calculations were made by loading the images into 3D Slicer, an open-source software package. In this study, mean capitate volume was the largest in both sexes (male 3479.9 +/- 679.2; female 2207.1 +/- 272.1 mm(3)), while pisiform had the smallest mean volume (male 810.0 +/- 141.2; female 566.6 +/- 97.7 mm(3)). This order was ordered from largest to smallest as hamate, scaphoid, trapezium, lunate, triquetrum, trapezoid, and pisiform. According to this study, carpal bone volumes were larger in males than in females (p<0.001). The ratio of each carpal bone volume to the total carpal bone volume was calculated according to sex and it was found that there was no difference (p>0.05). In this study, it was seen that carpal bone volume differed according to sex. However, it was observed that the bone volumes of both sexes took up the same amount in the total bone volume. This information will be very useful in sex determination, 3D anatomical material creation, implant applications and reconstructive surgery.