Anat Biol Anthropol.  2024 Sep;37(3):133-140. 10.11637/aba.2024.37.3.133.

Estimation of Adult Stature Based on Patella Morphology in a Korean Population: Postmortem Computed Tomography-based Study

• Park E
• Hwang JW
• Yu BY
• Oh SM
• Park KR

• KMID: 2562488
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/aba.2024.37.3.133

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to present a regression model to predict stature through the morphological analysis of the Korean patella using postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) data, thereby understanding the anatomical and forensic characteristics of Koreans and securing basic data for this population. This study analyzed PMCT images of 146 subjects (72 males, 74 females) taken at the National Forensic Service between January and December 2022 from the Korean population. The PMCT images were reconstructed into 3D images using the Mimics program, and the morphology of the patella was also measured using this program. We measured six variables of the right patella: PMH (Patella maximum height), PMW (Patella maximum width), PMT (Patella maximum thickness), AFRH (Articular facet ridge height), MAFW (Medial articular facet width), and LAFW (Lateral articular facet width). The average stature was 1637.91±87.75 mm overall, 1692.92±75.31 mm for males, and 1584.39±62.36 mm for females. The overall mean of the measurement variables was 41.39± 3.80 mm for PMH, 44.99±3.86 mm for PMW, 21.56±1.84 mm for PMT, 27.11±2.76 mm for AFRH, 20.64± 2.50 mm for MAFW, and 28.03±2.45 mm for LAFW. All measured variables were significantly longer in males than in females (p<0.001). Predictive models for stature (y, mm) based on the patella measurement variables (x, mm) were derived with the following results (p<0.001): S = 999.506 + 15.425PMH, S = 963.482 + 14.989PMW, S = 1002.098 + 29.488PMT, S = 1293.621 + 12.700AFRH, S = 1287.435 + 16.977MAFW, S = 995.903 + 22.903LAFW. We proposed a Korean-specific regression model for estimating stature based on patella morpho logy measurements, and this model could be suitable and useful for Koreans in forensic anthropology and clinical practice.

Keyword

Patella; Stature estimation; Postmortem computed tomography; 3D reconstruction