Zhang et al reported multiple equations for estimating the stature of a Chinese adolescent or adult from radiographically determined lower limb bone length. The authors are from the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Sichuan University in China.
Patient selection: age range 12 to 77 years, modern China
Measurements (additional measurements also reported):
(1) femoral length in cm (linear distance between the most superior part of the femoral head to the most inferior medial of the medial condyle
(2) length of the fibula in cm (linear distance between the most superior apex of the fibular head and the most inferior part of lateral malleolus of the fibula
(3) epicondylar breadth (linear distance from the most projected points of the epicondyle)
(4) tibial length (linear distance from most superior part of the medial condyles of the tibia and the most inferior part of fibular notch on the tibia
(5) maximum breadth of the femoral head (maximum distance between the medial and lateral sides of the head of the femur)
Male Equations
stature in cm =
= (2.872 * (tibial length)) + 66.2
= (3.019 * (fibular length)) + 58.164
= (2.507 * (femoral length)) + (2.785 * (epicondylar breadth)) + 32.435
Female Equations
stature in cm =
= (2.568 * (tibial length)) + 48.783
= (1.597 * (femoral length)) + (1.328 * (fibular length)) + 44.664
Patient Less than 45 Years of Age
stature in cm =
= (2.88 * (femoral length)) +38.424
= (2.285 * (femoral length)) + (5.95 * (maximum breadth of femoral head)) + 37.355
Patient Above 45 Years of Age
stature in cm =
= (2.71 * (femoral length)) + 42.372
= (2.305 * (femoral length)) + (2.94 * (epicondylar breadth)) + 37.105
