Estimation of stature from length of long bones plays an important role in identifying unknown bodies. Stature of an individual can be estimated from measurements of long bones with the help of established formulae which plays an important role in medico-legal practice. Each worker has derived his own formula for calculating the stature from the length of long bones but no universally applicable formula has been derived as the relationship between stature and long bone length differ according to race, sex, age and side of body. It is proved beyond doubt that each race requires its own formula. Hence present study is undertaken to derive formulae for stature estimation for individuals of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra state.
The material consists of fully ossified 116 humeri belonging to 58 dissection hall cadavers, from Government Medical College Nagpur, out of which 42 were males and 16 were females of known sex and stature. The linear relationship between the living stature and length of humerus of each side was worked out in the form of regression equation and Multiplication factor. With the help of these regression equations, stature was calculated.
Stature estimated with the help of regression equation showed the average error of 3 cm in males and less than 1 cm in females and with multiplication factor it was less than 2 cm in both the sexes.
The regression formulae and multiplication factor can be used to predict the stature from the length of humerus. The accuracy of multiplication factor in estimating the stature in the region is very high.
Cadaver, Humerus, Living Stature, Multiplication Factor, Regression Equations
