Determination of stature from ulnar length in Nepalese population

Abstract

Objective: This study was an attempt to formulate a linear regression equation for estimation of stature by measuring the ulnar length in living adult Nepalese population. Materials and Methods: The material consists of 600 subjects between 25 and 40 years of age in Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Bhairahawa, eastern, middle and mid-western region of Nepal respectively. The left and right ulnar length was measured from the tip of the olecranon process to the tip of the styloid process by a spreading caliper. The stature was measured in anatomical position while standing barefooted with standard height measuring instrument. The documented data were calculated by the standard statistical software. Result: The parameters were tabulated and statistically analyzed. A fine correlation of stature with ulnar length was observed, which was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The length of ulna provides an accurate and reliable means in estimating the height of an individual and being almost a percutaneous bone its length can be measured easily. The regression formulae, which were derived in this study, will be useful for clinicians, human anatomists, archeologists, anthropologists, and forensic experts.