New equations for stature estimation using humerus, ulna and radius lengths in a thai population

Abstract

© 2019 Japan Health Sciences University & Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation. Objectives: Stature estimation is an important procedure for forensic human identification. The aims of this study were to develop new equations for stature estimation using humerus, ulna and radius lengths and to test the accuracy of the resulting equations in a Thai population. Design: A cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 300 randomly selected Thai dry bones (150 males and 150 females) from the Forensic Osteology Research Center (FORC), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The lengths of upper limb bones were measured in 12 dimensions and new equations were developed using simple linear regression. Results: The results showed that the best of the three accuracy equations of stature estimation was found in the equations using the maximum length of the radius (Maxr), the maximum length of the ulna (Maxu) and the physiological length of the ulna (Phyu) in both males and females with the lowest mean absolute error (MAE) ranging from 3.92 to 4.57 cm and lowest standard error of prediction (SEP) ranging from 4.55 to 5.67 cm. Conclusions: In conclusion, the new equations in this study provided accurate stature estimation for both sexes. These suggested that the new equations can be used for estimating stature, especially in a Thai population.