Body height estimation based on tibia length in different stature groups.

Long bone length is one of the best-known indicators of human stature. Although the long bone length/height ratio differs in tall and short individuals, no detailed study has investigated whether specific formulae should be used to calculate height in different stature groups. This study proposes a new height estimation method. Body height and tibia length were measured in 121 male subjects aged 18.0-34.3 years. Three subgroups were established according to body height (short, medium, or tall), using the 15th and 85th percentiles as cutoff levels. The general formula and a group-specific regression formula were used to estimate height in each subgroup. A control group with the same properties as the study group was analyzed in the same manner. Particularly with "short" and "tall" subjects, the difference between true height and the height predicted by the group-specific formulae was smaller than the difference observed when the general formula was used. These discrepancies were statistically significant. When estimating height based on tibia length, the individual's general stature category should be taken into consideration, and group-specific formulae should be used for short and tall subjects.

[1]  T. Sjøvold.  Estimation of stature from long bones utilizing the line of organic correlation , 1990 .

[2]  J. Tanner,et al.  Worldwide Variation in Human Growth , 1991 .

[3]  R. Aldegheri,et al.  A chart of anthropometric values. , 1993, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[4]  X. Zhang,et al.  The second national growth and development survey of children in China, 1985: children 0 to 7 years. , 1988, Annals of human biology.

[5]  R. Jantz,et al.  Secular change in long bone length and proportion in the United States, 1800-1970. , 1999, American journal of physical anthropology.

[6]  J. Cheng,et al.  Anthropometric Measurements and Body Proportions Among Chinese Children , 1996, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[7]  W. Jungers,et al.  Stature estimation and calibration: Bayesian and maximum likelihood perspectives in physical anthropology. , 1998, American journal of physical anthropology.

[8]  J M Tanner,et al.  Increase in length of leg relative to trunk in Japanese children and adults from 1957 to 1977: comparison with British and with Japanese Americans. , 1982, Annals of human biology.

[9]  G. Gleser,et al.  A re-evaluation of estimation of stature based on measurements of stature taken during life and of long bones after death. , 1958, American journal of physical anthropology.

[10]  M. C. D. Mendonça.  Estimation of height from the length of long bones in a Portuguese adult population. , 2000 .

[11]  J. K. Lundy,et al.  Femur/stature ratio and estimates of stature in mid- and late-Pleistocene fossil hominids. , 1990, American journal of physical anthropology.

[12]  Vincenzo Formicola,et al.  Regression equations for estimating stature from long bones of early holocene European samples. , 1996, American journal of physical anthropology.

[13]  R. Jantz.  Modification of the Trotter and Gleser female stature estimation formulae. , 1992, Journal of forensic sciences.

[14]  R. Jantz,et al.  Allometric secular change in the long bones from the 1800s to the present. , 1995, Journal of forensic sciences.

[15]  G. Gleser,et al.  Estimation of stature from long bones of American Whites and Negroes. , 1952, American journal of physical anthropology.

[16]  W. Greulich.  A comparison of the physical growth and development of American-born and native Japanese children. , 1957, American journal of physical anthropology.