Stature Estimation of Sichuan Han Females Based on X-ray Photography of Total Lower Limbs.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To establish a mathematical model of stature estimation for Sichuan Han females on the basis of the relationship between lower limbs and individual height, thus to provide evidence for forensic identification. METHODS: Samples were collected from 171 Sichuan Han females. Large flat panel multi-function digital photography system was used to take the full-body X-ray films of the lower limbs. Indexes of long bones and stature of the subjects were measured, respectively. A linear regression analysis was carried out on the correlation between them, and a mathematical model of the stature calculation was established. Then the mathematical model was used to calculate the stature of another 29 Sichuan Han females to test its accuracy. RESULTS: The maximum length of femur （x1） had the highest correlation with stature. A total of 13 linear regression equations were established （P<0.05）, with the correlation coefficient （R） 0.821-0.897 and the standard error of the estimation （SEE） 2.994-3.812 cm. The backtesting showed that the equation y=41.604+1.205 x1+1.318 x6+2.444 x12+1.852 x13-2.388 x14 had the smallest mean absolute deviation （2.485 years old） and the highest accuracy of ±2SEE （92.9%）, and that the equation y=48.783+2.568 x1 had the highest accuracy of ±1SEE （60.7%）. CONCLUSIONS: The stature estimation is high by using the long bones of the lower limbs has high accuracy.