Hoppa and Gruspier reported equations for predicting the length of the diaphysis for a fragmented long bone in pediatric remains. The authors are from McMaster University and University of Toronto in Canada.
Population: Canadian (probably Caucasians of European extraction)
Age: "subadult" with unfused epiphyses
Estimates were for the diaphysis of the long bone from fragments. The total length of the long bone would require addition of both epiphyses and metaphyses.
Measurements were in millimeters.
Bone Fragment |
Equation |
femur, prox1 |
(11.079 * (breadth)) - 39.567 |
femur, prox2 |
(4.936 * (length)) - 70.276 |
femur, dist1 |
(5.96 * (breadth)) - 41.06 |
Prox1 = proximal shaft breadth = proximal shaft-end breadth
Prox2 = neck length
Dist 1 = distal shaft breadth = maximum horizontal distance between medial and lateral edges of the shaft
NOTE: The values for Prox2 based on the above equations do not match those shown in Figure 1 on page 346.
Bone Fragment |
Equation |
tibia, prox1 |
(6.126 * (breadth)) - 43.848 |
tibia, dist1 |
(10.307 * (breadth)) - 58.862 |
Prox1 = proximal shaft breadth = distance between the medial and lateral edges of the proximal shaft (may not be the maximum breadth for the specimen)
Dist 1 = distal shaft breadth = from fibular notch to opposite surface
Bone Fragment |
Equation |
humerus, prox1 |
(8.113 * (breadth)) - 19.625 |
humerus, dist1 |
(5.972 * (breadth)) - 31.555 |
Prox1 = proximal shaft breadth = from edge of greater and lesser tubercules to opposite edge
Dist 1 = distal shaft breadth = maximum horizontal distance between the medial and lateral edges of the shaft
Bone Fragment |
Equation |
radius, prox1 |
(13.432 * (breadth)) - 27.039 |
radius, dist1 |
(9.561 * (breadth)) - 31.721 |
Prox1 = proximal shaft breadth = maximum diameter of the shaft
Dist 1 = distal shaft breadth = from ulnar notch to opposite edge
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory