Estimation of Stature from Percutaneous Measurement of Upper Limb Length by Linear Regression Equation

Anthropometry refers to measurements of human individuals; aim of using anthropometry in Forensic Medicine is to help the law enforcement agencies in achieving personal identity in cases of unknown human remains. Stature prediction from skeletal remains is important for formulating biological profile during the process of personal identification, especially when mutilated and amputated limbs or body segments are found. This study was designed to elucidate norms for upper limb length and propose gender specific values for stature estimation from upper limb length.

Study comprised of 100 (50 males and 50 females) healthy individuals studying in the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Uttarakhand aged between 19 to 22 years. Their stature and upper limb length were measured using standard techniques.

Mean height of total subjects were found to be 166.00cm with a standard deviation(S.D) of 10.19 cm. Mean length of left upper limb of total subjects was 75.82cm with a S.D of 5.86cm. Mean length of right upper limb of total subjects was 76.38cm with S.D of 5.82cm. The mean height of females was 158.42 cm; mean length of female left and right upper limb was 71.59cm and 72.15cm respectively. The mean height of males was173.58 cm; mean length of male left and right upper limb was 80.05cm and 80.61cm respectively. In this study, no significant difference between boys and girls was found (p<0.001), but a significant strong positive correlation of stature and upper limb length was observed in both the sexes.

Measurements of the right side were found to be greater than that of left side, but the difference was marginal and statistically insignificant. By applying the regression analysis, regression equation for stature estimations were obtained to both sexes for left and right upper limb length.