Stature Estimation using Tibia Length in Young Adults of Urhobo Ethnic Group, in South-south, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Estimating stature is an essential part of the identification of human skeletal remains or body parts. The purpose of this  study was to estimate stature using tibia length among young Urhobo Adults.

Materials and method: 350 subjects (144 males and 206 females) were utilized for the study. Stature was measured using a stadiometer  and tibia length was measured using a digital Vernier calliper. The independent and paired samples t-test, Pearson's correlation test and  linear regression equations were employed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

Results: The mean height in males was 174.22cm and females was 163.97cm, the mean Right tibia length was 40.48cm in males and  37.67cm in females while the left tibia length was 40.41cm and 37.63cm in males and females respectively. There was significant  difference between right and left tibia length in males and the general population (p<0.001). However, females showed no significant  difference (p>0.05). There was a strong positive significant association between stature and bone lengths (r>0.8, p<0.001). There was no  significant difference between the estimated and actual stature for subjects using the general and group-specific regression formulas  (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The study showed that males have significantly higher mean values of parameters measured than females. Right  tibia length was significantly longer than the left in males and total population. Groupspecific formula gave more accurate results than  the general formula making them better suited to estimate stature in forensic cases. Hence, tibia length can be used as an important tool  in forensic examination as they provide elements of accuracy in stature determination.