Anthropometric Reconstruction of Human Stature Using Percutaneous Leg Dimensions in an Indian Medical Student Cohort

Background: The estimation of stature from skeletal remains is a fundamental aspect of biological identification in forensic science and a vital clinical tool when direct measurement is impossible. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between percutaneous tibia length and total stature to develop population-specific regression models.
Objective: To establish a statistically significant correlation between percutaneous leg dimensions and total stature in an Indian medical student cohort to derive population-specific linear regression equations for forensic and clinical height reconstruction.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 healthy medical students (57 males, 43 females) aged 18 to 24 years. Standing height and percutaneous length of the right and left leg segments (tibia) were measured using standardized instruments. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis to derive prediction equations.
Results: Significant sexual dimorphism was observed, with mean heights and limb lengths being higher in males (174.54 +13.32 cm) than in females (156.0 + 11.19 cm). Pearson’s correlation coefficient demonstrated a strong positive and statistically significant relationship (p < 0.001) between leg dimensions and total height.
Conclusion: Percutaneous leg length is a reliable and accurate predictor for height estimation. The derived regression equations provide a valuable tool for clinicians, anthropologists, and forensic experts, facilitating identification and clinical assessment in the Indian population