Type and Fusion Identification by Age and Sex in Human Hyoid Bone Using 3D CT Images in a Turkish Sample

INTRODUCTION: The morphometric measurement of the hyoid bone has been extensively studied in the literature, although morphological evaluations are covered in a limited number of studies. The aim of this study was to ascertain the fusion status and hyoid bone type and their relationships with age groups and sex.
METHODS: An examination was made of computed tomography scans of 320 patients. The types and degrees of fusion of the hyoid bone were determined.
RESULTS: Hyoid type-U was most frequently observed in males (25.6%), type-D in females (31.9%) and the overall population (30.8%). There was no statistically significant difference in fusion formation on the right and left sides (p>0.05). The number of bones with fusion increased in both sexes with age (p=0.000). The earliest fusion observed was in a case aged 16 years, and 50% of the cases did not have fusion at age 61 years or older. Unlike previous studies, hyoid type and fusion status were evaluated using discriminant function analysis.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Hyoid type and fusion cannot be indicative criteria for sex and age determination, but it might be feasible to accurately identify a person younger than twenty years old. The data obtained in the current study can be considered to make an important contribution to future studies.