Juvenile Stature Estimation: A Chilean Perspective

Abstract

Limited analysis has been conducted for estimating stature derived from the long bone lengths of juvenile skeletons. Juvenile stature estimation can be particularly useful in the forensic setting, which may have applications for use as a proxy for nutritional health. Stature equations developed by Ruff (Am J Phys Anthropol 133:698-716, 2007) and Smith (J Forensic Sci 52:538-546, 2007) derived from modern European Americans were used to predict juvenile stature from long bones. Significant differences were noted for 13-15 year age range for the femur, tibia, and humerus and for the 16-17 year age range for femur, tibia, and radius between Chilean and European American juvenile long bone lengths and stature. Based on these results, the younger age groups may be used (4-6 and 7-9 years) but not the older ones (13-15 and 16-17 years).