In the quest for a simple, reliable technique to estimate the sex of human remains several novel metric skeletal indices have been reported. Only a few have been examined for utility in populations different from those in which they were developed. In this study, the mastoid process was evaluated for sex determination using 102 lateral cephalograms of a Nigerian sample of known age and sex. The asterion-mastoidale distance and mastoid triangular area were sexually dimorphic with mean values higher in males compared with females (p = 0.02). On analysis of the discriminant function, overall accuracy for sex classification was 55%. On cross-validation, the triangular area accurately identified 80% of females and 48% of males. The asterion-mastoidale distance was slightly more accurate at sexing the sample. The practical utility of the mastoid triangle area technique to differentiate sex in Nigerian populations is not supported by the results of this study.

The objective index as developed by Qaura, Deodhar, and Jit, in 1980 was used to estimate the incidence of flat foot (pes planus) in 990 school pupils (532 females and 458 males) between the ages of 5 and 14 years. The ratio of contact area to the total area of the middle of the footprint (contact index 1) (4/10), usually measured with a planimeter, is accepted as the true representative of the condition of arches. In this field study, contact index II (ratio of contact width to the total width of the foot) which is simple, reliable, and correlates with contact index I has been used to assess flat foot. The mean for the contact index and standard deviation have been calculated. Feet have been considered as normal up to 1 SD around the mean value of the index and values greater or lesser than this have been considered abnormal. Furthermore, mean +/- 1 SD to 2 SD has been considered as possible flat foot, whereas mean +/- 3 SD and above has been taken as definite flat foot. On the whole, bilateral flat foot is not common among children of school age in Port Harcourt (0.60%). It is, however, more common in females (0.75%) than males (0.44%). Unilateral flat foot (2.22%) is found to be more common than bilateral flat foot. Early introduction to the use of shoes may predispose to flat foot. We were not in a position to say if any of the subjects found with flat foot would have a painful foot.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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The authors studied the calcaneal angle in Nigerians and found it to range from 28 degrees to 38 degrees with a mean of 32.83 degrees (SD 2.84 degrees). The calcaneal angle in Nigerians is not significantly related to sex, age, or side of the body (left or right). Proper alignment of the calcaneus is essential for the maintenance of the arches of the foot, for standing erect, and for walking and running. Thus the calcaneal angle must be borne in mind whenever reconstructive surgery is performed.

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