A Morphometric Study Correlating Length of Femur with Fragments of its Shaft

Abstract

Background: Remains of bones can be studied to determine race, sex and stature of unidentified human bodies. Length of the femur correlates with measurements at different landmarks. Equations can be constructed to assess total femoral length (TFL), from which stature of the person to whom it belongs could be determined. The present study has been carried out to measure the transverse and antero posterior diameter of the shaft of the femur at three different levels in order to generate linear regression equations to estimate the total femoral length (TFL), in an Indian population. Methods: Length of 121 femora comprising of right (54) and left (67) sides were measured. Antero-posterior and transverse diameters of the femoral shaft, at three sites (10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm distal to the highest point on the femoral head) were measured. The data were analyzed statistically and linear regression equations were generated to calculate the TFL from measurements of the shaft. Results: Five of the six parameters demonstrated a positive correlation with length of femur. These were used for generating regression equations, using which femoral length was calculated. Conclusions: The present study provides precise osteometric data (regression equations) helpful in the reconstruction of TFL from fragments of its shaft, in the Indian population.

Keywords

• femur
• reconstruction
• regression formula
• shaft
• stature