Regression equation for estimation of length of humerus from its mophometry in a Nigerian population

Abstract

Background: While intact long bones are most ideal in estimation of the stature of unidentified individual, in forensic cases as may occur when natural or man-made disasters present bone fragments, regression equations derived from measurements of these bone fragments have been used to determine the length of the intact long bone.

Objective: The study reports on the morphometry of the humerus and the estimation of its length using regression equations in a Nigerian population.

Methods: The maximum length of the humerus was measured using an osteometric board while the Anatomical neck circumference (ANC), Anatomical neck diameter (AND), mid shaft diameter (MSD), olecranon vertical diameter (OVD), olecranon transverse diameter (OTD), transverse diameter of the inferior articular surface (IASD), transverse trochlea diameter (TTD) proximal point of the caput humeri and collum anatomicum (CHCAD), proximal edge of the fossa olecrani (PEFO) and the most distal point of trochlea humeri (FOTHD) and the biepicondylar width (BEW) of the distal segment were measured using a digital vernier caliper. Partial correlation and Persian regression were used to derive linear regression equations for the measured parameters that showed correlation with the humeral length.

Results: Estimation of the maximum length of the humerus from the measures of its ANC, FOTHD, and MSD was achieved with relative accuracy. In deriving regression equations for the length of the humerus of the right and left sides, irrespective of side, the ANC and MSD were both significant in estimating the maximum length of the humerus; on the right side only the ANC exhibited significant correlation, while on the left side both the ANC and FOTHD exhibited significant correlation.

Conclusion: These previously unreported findings may help in anthropometric, forensic, and archaeological investigations for the estimation of the stature of the remains of unknown bodies by using regression equations in a Nigerian population.

Keywords: Regression equations, humerus, morphometry, Nigerian population