Stature estimation from various three-dimensional anthropometric foot measurements of Taiwanese female population

Predicting a victim's stature from a dismembered body or human remains is a challenge in forensic practice. Lower extremity dimensions, such as the foot, are essential measurements for stature estimation. However, there is no available information on stature prediction generated from Taiwanese female foot measurements in the forensic science field. Hence, this study aims to investigate the correlations between various foot dimensions and stature and develop population-specific stature-prediction equations for Taiwanese females. Bilateral data of 12 foot dimensions were collected from 1058 females aged from 18 to 59 years using three-dimensional scanning. A paired t-test is performed to evaluate bilateral differences, and linear and stepwise regression analyses are performed to generate stature predictions. The results indicate significant bilateral differences in the majority of the foot measurements. All measurements are positively correlated with stature (p < .05). Higher correlation coefficients with stature are observed in length-related foot dimensions, followed by girth- and breadth-related dimensions. The foot length on both sides is selected as an accurate and reliable parameter to conduct linear stature-predicting regression for Taiwanese females because it exhibits the highest explanation rate (right: 54.1%; left: 50.8%) and lowest estimating standard error (right: 3.883 cm, left: 4.020 cm) among the 12 foot measurements. Based on the results of the stepwise regression analysis, several stature-prediction equations consisting of various foot measurements are established. The findings of this study can provide helpful information for predicting the stature of Taiwanese females from fragmentary foot remains.     

An intensive Alpine climbing expedition and its influence on some anthropometric measurements.

The effects of an intensive 4 week Alpine climbing expedition on percentage body fat, absolute body fat and lean body mass was investigated in 14 adult male students. Anthropometric measures were taken on two occasions during the training period prior to the expedition, twice during the expedition and finally eight weeks after the expedition had returned home. There was a 3% reduction in percentage body fat between the first testing occasion and the fourth taken towards the end of the expedition. Over the same interval there was a mean reduction of 2.6 kg in absolute body fat and a reduction in lean body mass of 2.47 kg. All three criterion mean values on the final testing session returned to or exceeded those taken on session one.     

Dietary status and anthropometric assessment of child gymnasts.

This study on gymnasts found the subjects' body fat to be 5-8% higher than that found in comparable studies on the subject. With the exception of protein, vitamin C, and riboflavin, the subjects' dietary intake of energy and other nutrients, i.e., calcium, iron, vitamin A, thiamin and niacin, was found to be inadequate. The athletes were recommended to observe a proper diet and training program which could enable them to reduce the amount of body fat and compensate for dietary inadequacies.     

An autopsy study of coronary atherosclerosis and its relation to anthropometric measurements/indices of overweight and obesity in men

Atherosclerosis accounts for a large proportion of cardiovascular system associated morbidity and mortality. The present autopsy based study is aimed to study the correlation between coronary atherosclerosis and anthropometric measurements/indices of overweight and obesity such as; Waist Circumference (WC), Hip Circumference (HC), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) in men from southern India. The present research also analyses the correlation between anthropometric measurements/indices of overweight and obesity in men with number of coronaries affected with atherosclerosis in individuals. The study included 50 autopsies conducted in the Government District Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore during March and September 2008. The heart was dissected following standard autopsy protocol and a 5 cm section of the right coronary artery (RCA) in the atrio-ventricular groove from its origin, a 5 cm segment of the left anterior descending artery (LADA) distal to the origin of the circumflex artery, but including the region of origin of the circumflex branch and left coronary artery (LCA) from its origin till the circumflex branch were excised, dissected out, fixed in 10% formalin, marked for identification and sent for histopathological analysis. The study shows a positive correlation of WC and WHR with atherosclerotic changes in the RCA. The number of arteries affected with atherosclerosis is found to be well correlated with WC, BMI and WHR. The study confirms an association between anthropometric measurements/indices of obesity, grade of atherosclerosis in the RCA and the number of arteries affected with atherosclerosis. Anthropometric measurements/indices of obesity can be an effective means to identify high risk cases of atherosclerosis at an early stage that can be effective in reducing the associated cardiac morbidity and mortality.     

Cortical bone mass in Nigerian children: an anthropometric assessment

Cortical bone mass was quantified in 1278 Nigerian children (695 males and 583 females) aged 3–16 years in a prospectively designed cross-sectional and longitudinal study. The total bone width (T) and medullary cavity width (M) were measured at the midshaft of the second metacarpal bone using a direct reading caliper. From the above measurements the cortical width (C), cortical area (CA), and percent cortical area (PCA) were calculated using the method of Garn et al. [6] and showed a progressive increase of T, C, CA and PCA, reaching a plateau at 15 years. At all ages, the values for both T and M are higher in males than in females. On the other hand, and contrary to established normal values amongst both white and black Americans, between the ages of 9 and 15 the female values for C are higher than those for males. This difference is greatest at the age of 12 years (p<0.001). The implication of this finding may be that during these years, African male children do not compensate for the increased endosteal resorption with a greater total cortical width (T), since the medullary width in females remains relatively constant over the years.     

Intraoperative anthropometric measurements of tibial morphology: comparisons with the dimensions of current tibial implants

Purposes

This study analyzed morphological differences in the resected proximal tibial surfaces of Chinese males and females undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and compared the measurements with the dimensions of five currently used tibial implants.

Methods

The mediolateral (ML), middle anteroposterior (AP), medial anteroposterior (MAP), and lateral anteroposterior (LAP) dimensions of the resected tibial surfaces of 976 Chinese TKA knees (177 male, 799 female) were measured. The ML/AP ratio of every knee was calculated. These morphological data were compared with the dimensions of five currently used tibial implants.

Results

The ML, AP, MAP, and LAP dimensions of the resected proximal tibias showed significant differences according to gender. Compared with currently used tibial implants, the smaller implants showed tibial ML undersizing and the larger implants showed tibial ML overhang. The ML/AP aspect ratio progressively decreased with increasing AP dimension in the resected proximal tibias, which contrasts with the relatively constant or increased (NexGen) aspect ratio in currently used tibial implants. Males showed a higher ML/AP aspect ratio than females for a given AP dimension. This indicates that for an implant with a given AP dimension, the tibial ML dimension tends to be undersized in males and to overhang in females.

Conclusion

The results of this study may provide fundamental data for designing suitable tibial implants for use in the Chinese population, especially for design of gender-specific prostheses.

Level of evidence

II.     

Analytical evaluation of the effects of inconsistent anthropometric measurements on joint kinematics in motion capturing

Clinical decisions based on gait data obtained by optoelectronic motion capturing require profound knowledge about the repeatability of the used measurement systems and methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of inconsistent anthropometric measurements on joint kinematics calculated with the Plug-in Gait model. Therefore, a sensitivity study was conducted to ascertain how joint kinematics output is affected to different anthropometric data input. One previously examined gait session of a healthy male subject and his anthropometric data that were assessed by two experienced examiners served as a basis for this analytical evaluation. This sensitivity study yielded a maximum difference in joint kinematics by the two sets of anthropometrics of up to 1.2°. In conclusion, this study has shown that the reliability of subjects’ anthropometrics assessed by experienced examiners has no considerable effects on joint kinematics.     

Diagnostic performance of MRI measurements to assess hindfoot malalignment. An assessment of four measurement techniques

Objective

To investigate the ability of coronal non-weight-bearing MR images to discriminate between normal and abnormal hindfoot alignment.

Methods

Three different measurement techniques (calcaneal axis, medial/lateral calcaneal contour) based on weight-bearing hindfoot alignment radiographs were applied in 49 patients (mean, 48 years; range 21–76 years). Three groups of subjects were enrolled: (1) normal hindfoot alignment (0°–10° valgus); (2) abnormal valgus (>10°); (3) any degree of varus hindfoot alignment. Hindfoot alignment was then measured on coronal MR images using four different measurement techniques (calcaneal axis, medial/lateral calcaneal contour, sustentaculum tangent). ROC analysis was performed to find the MR measurement with the greatest sensitivity and specificity for discrimination between normal and abnormal hindfoot alignment.

Results

The most accurate measurement on MR images to detect abnormal hindfoot valgus was the one using the medial calcaneal contour, reaching a sensitivity/specificity of 86 %/75 % using a cutoff value of >11° valgus. The most accurate measurement on MR images to detect abnormal hindfoot varus was the sustentaculum tangent, reaching a sensitivity/specificity of 91 %/71 % using a cutoff value of <12° valgus.

Conclusion

It is possible to suspect abnormal hindfoot alignment on coronal non-weight-bearing MR images.

Key Points

? Abnormal hindfoot alignment can be identified on coronal non-weight-bearing MR images. ? The sustentaculum tangent was the best predictor of an abnormally varus hindfoot. ? The medial calcaneal contour was the best predictor of a valgus hindfoot.     

Pseudoachondroplasia in a child: The role of anthropometric measurements and skeletal imaging in differential diagnosis

Pseudoachondroplasia is a rare osteochondrodysplasia characterized by disproportionate short stature and limb deformity. Diagnostic accuracy is based on a detailed evaluation of the radioclinical features. We report a boy with pseudoachondroplasia. We aim to underscore why is accurate delineation of the pattern of radioclinical skeletal abnormalities in pseudoachondroplasia a weighty part of diagnosis. Furthermore, we aim to highlight the main clinical and skeletal imaging features of skeletal dysplasias that overlap with pseudoachondroplasia using clinical cases evaluated in our institution. The findings affirm that anthropometric measurements and skeletal radiography are important contributors to the differential diagnosis and classification of disproportionate growth.