STATURE ESTIMATION FROM PERCUTANEOUS LENGTH OF ULNA

Introduction: Height plays a vital role in establishing the identity of an individual.Anatomically, it is a linear composite of skull, vertebral column, pelvis and legs and is measured from vertex to foot.Many instances where direct measurement of height is impossible, necessitates an alternative methodology.Aim: As height is directly proportional to the length of long bones, my present study aims at deriving a regression equation between height and percutaneous length of ulna in gender specific south Indian adolescent population.Materials and Methods: A total of 153 subjects (76 male and 77 female) with age span of 20 -22 years were included in this study.Length of ulna was measured using sliding Vernier caliper and height by standard height measuring instrument for all subjects.Results:The findings of the study indicated significant differences of the ulna length between the genders.A positive correlation between height and ulna length was observed in both sexes and it was statistically significant.Regression equations for stature estimation were formulated using the ulna lengths for both males and females. Conclusion:The ulna length provides an accurate and reliable means in estimating the height of an individual.The regression formulae proposed in this study will be useful for clinicians, anatomists, archeologists, anthropologists and forensic scientists when such evidence provides the investigator the only opportunity to gauge that aspect of an individual's physical description.