An anthropometric study on estimation of stature using height of humerus

Abstract

BACKGROUND In medico-legal cases, most often the personal identity of the deceased is important. One of the methods of ascertaining the sex and stature is by using the human bones. There are several regression formulae for conducting such estimation.
However, it must be remembered that these regression equations can vary depending upon the population and region.The aim of the study is to find out correlation and to drive a regression formula between the length of humerus and height of an individual, in population of central India,in M.P. The material consisted of 240 (120 males and 120 females )undergraduate and postgraduate medical students of age group 20 to 30 years .The length of humerus is measured by , asking the subject to flex the elbow joint .Height of the subject was measured with standard height measuring instrument in anatomical position. The results obtained were analyzed and attempt was made to derive a formula between length of humerus and total height of an individual. The result shows that there is definite correlation between the two. METHODS AND MATERIALS Equipments used are as follows 1)Anthropometer,Spreading caliper,Skin marking pencil,(Retractable tape,)caliper Methodology- The height of the subject was measured by standard height measuring instrument in anatomical position. The length of humerus was taken by asking the subject to flex the elbow joint. The flexor surfaces of arm and forearm made an angle of 90 degree. Lateral epicondyle was felt and marked with skin marking pencil. Acromion point was traced by moving finger over clavicle’s lateral end and was marked and the distance between two points was measured
by spreading caliper, both side humerus length was taken.
RESULT The equation for estimation of height by using length of humerus was 148.75+0.481 x Length of Humerus; and that in
females was 143.90+0.491 x Length of Humerus by using regression equation. A positive correlation between height of the study participants and length of humerus in both males, as well as, females is present, i.e. with increase in height, the length of the humerus also increased. The correlation with age and weight was found to be negative and none of the correlation was found to be significant.
CONCLUSION From this study, it can be concluded that since the error between actual stature and the estimated stature was not
significant, the stature can be successfully estimated using humerus length. The regression equations derived in this study can be effectively used in estimating stature. In developing countries, this method of stature estimation can be highly useful for identification especially considering its cost-effectiveness.