Klein Anke, Nagel Katrin, Gührs Julian, Poodendaen Chanasorn, Püschel Klaus, Morlock Michael M, Huber Gerd
Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Butenfeld 34, 22529 Hamburg, Germany.
Institute of Biomechanics, TUHH - Hamburg University of Technology, Denickestr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
Sci Justice. 2015 Dec;55(6):383-7. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2015.05.004. Epub 2015 Jun 8.
Stature estimation is important for identifying human remains. Analysis of body parts has become an important forensic tool during global operations in the context of cases in which human remains have been dismembered, mutilated or decomposed. However, unless almost the full skeleton or at least a long bone of the lower limb is available, accuracy is still limited to approximate body height. Especially with respect to single vertebral measurements, only a rough prediction is possible. Due to their complex geometry, vertebral measurements are possible at various locations. Nine locations have been considered in this study. Regression equations for stature estimation using lumbar vertebral geometry from computed tomography scans have been evaluated to identify the measurement which gives the most reliable body height estimation. The study group comprised a representative sample of a German metropolitan male population (42 autopsied individuals). Comparing the influence of various vertebral geometry measurements with body height resulted in a coefficient of correlation (R) of 0.19-0.53 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of ± 11.6 up to ± 13.1cm. The largest correlation with a single vertebral measurement was achieved with the central height of the vertebral body of L2 as predictor; the standard error (SE) of the estimate was 5.9 cm. Using models from CT scans appeared superior to current invasive procedures that use direct measurements of the vertebral body, in terms of reproducibility and time efficiency. For fragmented non-skeletonized human bodies, height prediction based on an all-virtual model of the vertebrae is possible. However, the regression coefficient may be similar to classic caliper measurements that prove easier if skeletonized bones are available.
身高估计对于识别遗体非常重要。在全球范围内处理遗体被肢解、毁损或腐烂的案件时，对身体部位的分析已成为一种重要的法医工具。然而，除非有几乎完整的骨骼或至少一根下肢长骨，否则准确性仍仅限于大致的身体高度。特别是对于单个椎体测量，只能进行粗略预测。由于其复杂的几何形状，可以在椎体的不同位置进行测量。本研究考虑了九个位置。已对使用计算机断层扫描的腰椎椎体几何形状进行身高估计的回归方程进行了评估，以确定能给出最可靠身体高度估计的测量方法。研究组包括德国大都市男性人群的代表性样本（42名尸检个体）。比较各种椎体几何测量对身高的影响，相关系数（R）为0.19 - 0.53，95%置信区间（CI）为±11.6至±13.1厘米。以L2椎体中心高度作为预测指标时，与单个椎体测量的相关性最大；估计的标准误差（SE）为5.9厘米。就可重复性和时间效率而言，使用CT扫描模型似乎优于目前使用椎体直接测量的侵入性程序。对于碎片化的非骨骼化人体，可以基于椎体的全虚拟模型进行身高预测。然而，回归系数可能与经典卡尺测量相似，如果有骨骼化的骨头，经典卡尺测量会更容易。
