Estimation of length of humerus from its fragmentary portions

The objective of the present study was to estimate the length of humeri from measurements of their fragments in south Indian population. This is important in forensic investigations and in archaeological studies particularly when the fragmentary portions are examined. For this purpose 200 adult humeri, 100 each of either sex in dried and fully ossified condition were taken for study. Each of the humerus bone was fragmented into five fragments by drawing imaginary lines with reference to their specific anatomical landmarks. The fragments are H2 (a-b), H3 (b-c), H4 (c-d), H5 (d-e) and H6 (e-f). After applying necessary statistical analysis a definite mathematical correlation in forms of proportion and regression equation was established between each fragment to the total length of humerus (H1). All the formulae thus derived for each of the fragments of bones are not only significant but also possess a high degree of prediction. Among all the fragments, the longest fragmentary portion i.e. H4 (c-d) predicts the highest percentage of accuracy (H1 166 + 0.712 H4 M, H1 = 90.2 + 1.06 H4F) followed by H2 (a-b) in calculating the total length of humerus (H1 = 307 + 0.330 H2M, H1 = 243 + 1.73 H2F). In conclusion, our study demonstrated that length of the humerus can be estimated from measures of different fragments. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.