Stature estimation in Japanese cadavers using the sacral and coccygeal length measured with multidetector computed tomography

Abstract

We evaluated the relationship between stature and the length of the sacrum and coccyx using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and derived regression equations for stature estimation in the modern Japanese population. Two hundred and sixteen Japanese subjects (110 males and 106 females) who underwent postmortem computed tomography with subsequent forensic autopsy between January 2010 and August 2013 were measured. A sagittal-plane image of the sacrum and coccyx was used. Anterior sacral length (ASL) was defined as the linear distance from the anterosuperior edge of the first sacral vertebra (S1) to the anteroinferior edge of the fifth sacral vertebra (S5), and posterior sacral length (PSL) was defined as the linear distance from the posterosuperior edge of S1 to the anteroinferior edge of S5. Anterior sacrococcygeal length (ASCL) was defined as the linear distance from the anterosuperior edge of S1 to the anteroinferior edge of the last coccygeal vertebra (LCV), and posterior sacrococcygeal length (PSCL) was defined as the linear distance from the posterosuperior edge of S1 to the anteroinferior edge of the LCV. The correlation between stature and each parameter was evaluated by simple regression analysis using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. Each parameter was significantly and positively correlated with stature among both males and females. Cadaver stature (CS, cm)=0.39×PSL (mm)+123.70 [Corrected] provided the most accurate stature prediction (R=0.507, SEE=5.83 cm) in males. CS (cm)=0.56×PSCL (mm)+85.29 provided the most accurate stature prediction (R=0.659, SEE=6.68 cm) in females. We conclude that sacral/sacrococcygeal length measured with MDCT is a potentially useful tool for stature estimation, particularly in cases where better predictors such as the long bones are not available.