Estimation of Stature from Per Cutaneous Length of Tibia in Students in a Rural Government Medical College and Hospital in Maharashtrian Population

Introduction: Establishment of identity of unknown human remains is a challenging task in medico-legal cases, especially when the remains are partial, mutilated or dismembered. Such situations usually arise in cases of natural disasters, rail, aircraft accidents, wars, terrorist explosions. Hand, foot, Ulna and Tibia length can be used to determine the stature of the person whenever mutilates, bones or part of bone comes for post-mortem examination. The tibia is ideal in this application as it resists erosion and keeps its anatomical shape for long even after burial.

Objective: To find out the relationship between personal stature and length of tibia.

Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted during October 2021-November 2021 in Department of FMT in a Rural Medical College Maharashtra.  Study Population included 100 medical students.

Result: Regression equations were formulated with R2 (coefficient of determination) of 0.5796 for males on right side & 0.5709 on left side and 0.5748 and 0.563 for females on right and left tibia respectively. The calculated height was compared with the observed height of the students using t test. The test revealed that there was no significant difference between observed and calculated height of both male and female students, p>0.05.

Conclusion: Tibial length is a reliable parameter in reconstructing the stature of an individual.