Estimation of stature from some cephalo-facial measurements and percutaneous length of rith ulna and tibia in egyptian sample

ABSTRACT

Estimation of stature is considered as an important parameter in medic o-legal examinations. When highly decomposed, mutilated dead bodies or gragmentary remains are brought for postmortem examination, it becomes difficult to identify the deceased. The aim of the present study was attempts to develop a formula to estimate the stature of an individual using five cephalo-facial dimensions and percutaneous length of right ulna and tibia in Egyptian sample. All measurements were taken from 300 healthy individuals' [150 males and 150 females] ranging in age from 18 to 30 years. The subjects were randomly selected mostly from Al-Azhar Medical Faculty students and staff and other personnel who lived in great Cairo. Five cephalo-facial measurements and percutaneous length of right ulna and tibia were taken on each subject. The results indicated that, all the cephalo-facial measurements are strongly and positively correlated [p<0.001] with stature. The measurements of the cephalic region have strong positive correlation with stature than those of facial region. There was also a statistically significant positive correlation between stature and right ulnar and tibial lengths. The highest correlation coefficient was found with tibial length [r=0.915] in males and [r=0.951] in females. The regression analysis also showed that the cephalic dimensions and right tibial length exhibit lower values of standard error of the estimate [SEE] than those of facial dimensions and ulnar length in both sexes suggesting that the prediction of stature from the cephalic formulae that obtained from this study were checked for their accuracy and reliability not only in the sample which was originally used for making these formulae but also in another sample was taken from other cities in Egypt [Tanta and Assiut]. The difference between the mean actual stature and mean estimated stature ranges from 0.471 to 1.048 cm in males and from 0.354 to 1.669 cm in females. In conclusion, the calculated linear regression formulae also hold true for the Egyptian population from different cities in Egypt