Citation

O'Briain DE, Dawson PH, Kelly JC, Connolly P. Ir. J. Med. Sci. 2016; 186(2): 441-445.

Affiliation

Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, General Publications)

DOI

10.1007/s11845-016-1524-5

PMID

27804078

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The 2D:4D ratio is a sexually dimorphic trait. A lower ratio is correlated with sporting prowess, successful financial trading, risk taking behaviour, aggression, and aggression-related injuries, such as the fifth metacarpal fractures. AIMS: We aimed to assess if the ratio correlates to skeletally immature patient aggression.

METHODS: Radiology reports were searched for the terms "5th metacarpal" or "boxer". Of 537 X-rays, 142 had fractures. The mechanism of injury was recorded in 102 patients, differentiating aggressive and non-aggressive injury groups. Bone age and chronological age were recorded.

RESULTS: A clear male preponderance for aggression was identified with only 60% of non-aggressive injuries occurring in males compared to 95% in the aggression group (p < 0.001). Patients with aggression injuries were older chronologically (14.6 vs 12.7, p < 0.001) and by bone age (14.5 vs 13.0, p < 0.001). For male patients, there was no difference in the 2D:4D ratio (p = 0.94); however, for females, the difference was significant (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Aggression injuries occur at an older age and are more common in males. In the female cohort, there was a distinct difference in digit ratio.

Language: en