Estimation of Stature from Percutaneous Lengths of Tibia and Fibula of Scheduled Castes of Haryana State, India

The paper presents unilinear and mutiunilinear regression formulae for the reconstruction of stature from percutaneous lengths of tibia and fibula of Scheduled Caste males and females of Haryana State of India. The study is based on a crosssectional sample of 202 individuals (101 males and 101 females) aged 18 to 21 years. Left and right radial subcutaneous lengths of tibia and fibula of each subject were measured using standard instruments and techniques. Percutaneous mean lengths of tibia and fibula were significantly greater in the males as compared to females (P<0.05).Bilateral differences in percutaneous lengths were not significant for tibia as well as fibula (P<0.05). Percutaneous tibial and fibular lengths showed significant correlation (P<0.05) with stature in both sexes; the correlations were stronger in females. The r2 values suggest that tibia was a better predictor of stature for males and the fibula for females. The estimates are better if mutiunilinear equations of tibia and fibula are used together. The regression formulae reported here have important applications in forensic science for identification of unknown human remains, particularly partial, mutilated and dismembered ones, especially of Haryana State of north India.