A model for height and sex prediction from percutaneous lengths of forearm bones

Abstract

Estimating the probable height, sex and age of unknown human remains is not uncommon to forensic experts. Applying mathematical formula derived from metric data of a population is accepted as an alternative when anatomical methods are not feasible during this process of identification. Although each population has to generate their own formulae because of differences in the genetic, environmental and racial attributes of populations, little is known of Ghanaians. Thus, we attempted to derive equations for height and sex prediction, by measuring the ulna and radial lengths of 300 Ghanaian subjects, composed of 160 males and 140 females, with a spreading calliper and a tape measure, and their heights with a stadiometer. Regressions and discriminant function analysis were applied to the variables in SPSS to generate formulae for height and sex prediction respectively. The mean height, ulna length and radial length for sampled individuals were 167.4, 28.6 and 25.9 cm respectively. Height exhibited a strong and significant positive correlation with ulna length (r = 0.720, p < 0.0001) and radial length (r = 0.664, p < 0.0001). However, for our data, ulna length is a better predictor of height and sex than radial length. Overall accuracy of sex determination based on radial or ulna length alone was 75.3% and 82.3% respectively.