Skip to main content
Log in

Stature estimation in Japanese cadavers based on pelvic measurements in three-dimensional multidetector computed tomographic images

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of stature estimation by measuring the pelvic bones of Japanese cadavers using three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT). We assessed 3D reconstructed images of 210 Japanese subjects (108 males, 102 females) who had undergone postmortem CT between May 2011 and November 2013. We defined the linear distance from the anterosuperior margin of the left and right anterior superior iliac spines (ASIS) to the posterior margin of the left and right ischial spines as the LSS and RSS, respectively. We also defined the linear distance from the anterosuperior margin of the left and right ASIS to the anteroinferior margin of the left and right ischial tuberosities as the LST and RST, respectively. The correlation between the cadaver stature (CS) and each parameter (LSS, LST, RSS, and RST) was evaluated using Pearson product–moment correlation coefficients and regression analysis was performed for stature estimation. All four parameters correlated significantly with stature independent of sex, suggesting that they can be used as a tool for stature estimation. The LST had the closest correlation with stature in both sexes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Krishan K, Sharma A (2007) Estimation of stature from dimensions of hands and feet in a North Indian population. J Forensic Legal Med 14:327–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cunha E, Cattaneo C (2006) Forensic pathology and forensic anthropology: the state of art. In: Schmitt A, Cunha E, Pinheiro J (eds) Forensic anthropology and medicine. Humana Press, New Jersey, pp 39–53

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  3. Scheuer L (2002) Application of osteology to forensic medicine. Clin Anat 15:297–312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Cordeiro C, Muñoz-Barús JI (2009) Predicting adult stature from metatarsal length in a Portuguese population. Forensic Sci Int 193:131.e1–131.e4

  5. Ahmed AA (2013) Estimation of stature from the upper limb measurements of Sudanese adults. Forensic Sci Int 228:178.e1–178.e7

  6. Raxter MH, Auerbach BM, Ruff CB (2006) Revision of the fully technique for estimating statures. Am J Phys Anthropol 130:374–384

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Krishan K, Kanchan T, Asha N (2012) Estimation of stature from index and ring finger length in a North Indian adolescent population. J Forensic Legal Med 19:285–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bidmos MA (2008) Stature reconstruction using fragmentary femora in South Africans of European descent. J Forensic Sci 53:1044–1048

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hauser R, Smoliński J, Gos T (2005) The estimation of stature on the basis of measurements of the femur. Forensic Sci Int 147:185–190

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Karakas HM, Celbis O, Harma A et al (2011) Total body height estimation using sacrum height in Anatolian Caucasians: multidetector computed tomography-based virtual anthropometry. Skelet Radiol 40:623–630

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Giroux CL, Wescott DJ (2008) Stature estimation based on dimensions of the bony pelvis and proximal femur. J Forensic Sci 53:65–68

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Krishan K, Kumar R (2007) Determination of stature from cephalo-facial dimensions in a North Indian population. J Legal Med 9:128–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Burke RM (2005) Can we estimate stature from the scapula? A test considering sex and ancestry. Thesis, BSc, University of Idaho

  14. Singh J, Pathak RK, Chavali KH (2011) Skeletal height estimation from regression analysis of sternal lengths in a Northwest Indian population of Chandigarh region: a postmortem study. Forensic Sci Int 206:211.e1–211.e8

  15. Marinho L, Almeida D, Santos A et al. (2012) Is the length of the sternum reliable for estimating adult stature? A pilot study using fresh sterna and a test of two methods using dry sterna. Forensic Sci Int 220:292.e1–292.e4

  16. Menezes RG, Nagesh KR, Monteiro FN et al (2011) Estimation of stature from the length of the sternum in South Indian females. J Forensic Legal Med 18:242–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Tibbets GL (1981) Estimation of stature from the vertebral column in American Blacks. J Forensic Sci 26:715–723

    Google Scholar 

  18. Terazawa K, Takatori T, Mizukami K et al (1985) Estimation of stature from somatometry of vertebral column in Japanese. Nihon Hoigaku Zasshi 30:35–40

    Google Scholar 

  19. Terazawa K, Akabane H, Gotouda H et al (1990) Estimating stature from the length of the lumbar part of the spine in Japanese. Med Sci Law 30:354–357

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Jason DR, Taylor K (1995) Estimation of stature from the length of cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments of spine in American whites and blacks. J Forensic Sci 40:59–62

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Torimitsu S, Makino Y, Saitoh H et al (2014) Stature estimation in Japanese cadavers using the sacral and coccygeal length measured with multidetector computed tomography. Legal Med (Tokyo) 16:14–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Pelin C, Duyar I, Kayahan EM et al (2005) Body height estimation based on dimensions of sacral and coccygeal vertebrae. J Forensic Sci 50:294–297

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Steyn M, Işcan MY (2008) Metric sex determination from the pelvis in modern Greeks. Forensic Sci Int 179:86.e1–86.e6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Villa C, Hansena MN, Buckberry J et al (2013) Forensic age estimation based on the trabecular bone changes of the pelvic bone using post-mortem CT. Forensic Sci Int 233:393–402

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Brooks S, Suchey J (1990) Skeletal age determination based on the Os Pubis: a comparison of the Acsadi-Nemeskeri and Suchey-Brooks methods. J Hum Evol 1990

  26. Buckberry JL, Chamberlain AT (2002) Age estimation from the auricular surface of the ilium: a revised method. Am J Phys Anthropol 119:231–239

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Todd TW (1930) Age changes in the pubic bone. VIII. Roentgenographic differentiation. Am J Phys Anthropol 14:255–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Schmidt S, Schmeling A, Zwiesigk P et al (2011) Sonographic evaluation of apophyseal ossification of the iliac crest in forensic age diagnostics in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 125:271–276

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Wittschieber D, Vieth V, Domnick C et al (2013) The iliac crest in forensic age diagnostics: evaluation of the apophyseal ossification in conventional radiography. Int J Legal Med 127:473–479

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Wittschieber D, Vieth V, Wierer T et al (2013) Cameriere’s approach modified for pelvic radiographs: a novel method to assess apophyseal iliac crest ossification for the purpose of forensic age diagnostics. Int J Legal Med 127:825–829

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. López-Alcaraz M, Garamendi González PM, Alemán Aguilera I et al (2013) Image analysis of pubic bone for sex determination in a computed tomography sample. Int J Legal Med 127:1145–1155

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Moore-Jansen PH, Ousley SD, Jantz RL (1994) Data collection procedures for forensic skeletal material. Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

    Google Scholar 

  33. Chiba F, Makino Y, Motomura A et al (2013) Age estimation by multidetector CT images of the sagittal suture. Int J Legal Med 127:1005–1011

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Jamaiyah H, Geeta A, Safiza MN et al (2010) Reliability, technical error of measurements and validity of length and weight measurements for children under two years old in Malaysia. Med J Malays 65:131–137

    Google Scholar 

  35. Arroyo M, Freire M, Ansotegui L et al (2010) Intraobserver error associated with anthropometric measurements made by dietitians. Nutr Hosp 25:1053–1056

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Sakuma A, Ishii M, Yamamoto S et al (2010) Application of postmortem 3D-CT facial reconstruction for personal identification. J Forensic Sci 55:1624–1629

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Giurazza F, Del Vescovo R, Schena E et al. (2012) Determination of stature from skeletal and skull measurements by CT scan evaluation. Forensic Sci Int 222:398.e1–398.e9

  38. Giurazza F, Del Vescovo R, Schena E et al (2013) Stature estimation from scapular measurements by CT scan evaluation in an Italian population. Legal Med (Tokyo) 15:202–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Pininski M, Brits D (2014) Estimating stature in South African populations using various measures of the sacrum. Forensic Sci Int 234:182.e1–182.e7

  40. Hasegawa I, Uenishi K, Fukunaga T et al (2009) Stature estimation formulae from radiographically determined limb bone length in a modern Japanese population. Legal Med (Tokyo) 11:260–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Willey P, Falsetti T (1991) Inaccuracy of height information on driver's licenses. J Forensic Sci 36:813–819

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Ousley SD (1995) Should we estimate biological or forensic stature? J Forensic Sci 40:768–773

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical standards

This study complies with the current laws of the country in which it was performed.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suguru Torimitsu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Torimitsu, S., Makino, Y., Saitoh, H. et al. Stature estimation in Japanese cadavers based on pelvic measurements in three-dimensional multidetector computed tomographic images. Int J Legal Med 129, 633–639 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1000-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1000-6

Keywords

Navigation