2025/07/08 by Nadya Imani Newman, Filho, Paulo Ricardo Martins, Newman, Nadya Imani +2
Arts and Humanities · Medicine · Dentistry · #Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies #Facial Trauma and Fracture Management #Dental Radiography and Imaging
paper · doi:10.17605/osf.io/bsgwx
This systematic review protocol aims to evaluate the presence and degree of sexual dimorphism in the orbital region through morphometric and morphological analyses obtained from computed tomography (CT) images. The orbital cavity is increasingly being investigated in forensic anthropology due to its resistance to trauma and its potential to exhibit sex-based anatomical variations. The review will include cross-sectional studies that assessed adult individuals using CT imaging, reporting either linear orbital measurements (e.g., height, width, interorbital distance) or morphological descriptors relevant to sex estimation. When available, measures of diagnostic accuracy—such as sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the ROC curve—will be extracted and synthesized. Odds ratios (ORs) will be used as the primary effect measure for associations between orbital metrics and sex classification. A comprehensive search will be conducted in eight international databases and grey literature sources. Risk of bias will be assessed using the AQUA tool (Anatomical Quality Assessment). Where feasible, a meta-analysis will be performed using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity will be explored through subgroup analyses, particularly considering sex, age group, and population. This protocol was developed following best practices for systematic reviews and incorporates key methodological refinements based on existing high-impact literature in forensic and anatomical sciences. The findings are expected to contribute robust evidence for the development of sex estimation models based on orbital morphology and morphometry.