Estimation of cadaveric stature from sternal measurements: An autopsy-based study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate cadaveric/post-mortem stature from dry sternum measurements by deriving regression  equations. This study included dry intact sterna from 56 males and 44 females, aged more than 25 years, obtained during medico-legal  autopsies. Stature and three sternal lengths i.e. length of the manubrium (ML), Mesosternal length (MSL) and combined sternal length  (MBL), of each cadaver were measured. Stature and all measured sternal lengths were greater in males compared to females  (p<0.001). Most of the sternal lengths were positively correlated with stature in sexes except male MSL and MBL. MBL had the  highest correlation coefficient (0.525). On the other hand, the stepwise multiple linear regression equation derived from the  combination of ML, MSL and MBL had the higher R2 value (R2 = 0.337) for cadaveric stature estimation. These findings suggested  that measured sternal lengths can be used for estimation of sex. However, MSL and MBL measurements were found to be the most  reliable sternal lengths for estimating sex. Our results revealed that sternum morphometry although shows moderate positive  correlation with the cadaveric stature but is not a reliable tool for estimating stature when other skeletal bones are not available.