ESTIMATIONOF TOTAL LENGTH OF HUMERUS FROM ITS FRAGMENTS IN SOUTH INDIAN POPULATION

Aim: To obtain the lengths of the humeral segments and compare with total length of humerus in South Indian population, That helps in estimating the stature of individual using standard regression formulae and to compare these data with the study conducted in other countries for the use in forensic and archeological studies. Materials and Methods: 150 (75 left and 75 right) adult, fully ossified, dry and processed humerii were taken to analyze the morphometric details of the humeral segments which were measured using osteometric board and scale. The length of six different segments namely, from most proximal point in the head to most distal point of the circumference of the head (segment-1), from most distal point of the circumference of the head to the convergence of two areas of muscle attachment (segment-2),the convergence of two areas of muscle attachment to the deltoid tuberosity (segment-3), from deltoid tuberosity to upper margin of the olecrannon fossa (segment- 4), from upper margin of olecrannon fossa to lower margin of olecrannon fossa (segment-5), from lower margin of olecrannon fossa to most distal point on the trochlea (segment-6) and maximum length of humerus were measured to the nearest millimeter. Results: The values obtained in mm (mean±S.D) in total length of humerus segments -1,2,3,4,5 and 6 were recorded. The proportion of segments to the total length was also calculated which will help for the stature estimation using standard regression formulae. Conclusion: This study helps in forensic, anatomic and archeological fields in order to identify unknown bodies as well as for the orthopedic surgeons for the treatment of proximal and distal humerus fractures for their reconstruction in case of extensive damage to those parts of the humerus.