Height Estimation Based on 3-Dimensional CT Scan of 12th Thoracic, 1st and 5th Lumbar Vertebrae

Identification of victims is one of the main challenges of forensic medicine. Height is one of the key measurements of the biological profiles of individuals. This study aimed to evaluate height based on measuring three-dimensional CT scan indices of twelfth thoracic (T12), first lumbar (L1), and fifth lumbar (L5) vertebrae in Iranian adults.

The present study was a cross-sectional study performed on 100 patients who underwent a spinal CT scan. Vertebral T12, L1, and L5 indices were measured in these individuals. Finally, the evaluated indices were statistically compared and the diagnostic effect of each was evaluated to estimate the height. Independent t-test and linear regression were used using SPSS software v. 21. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

The results showed that the mean difference between T12, L1, and L5 indices in the two groups of male and female patients was statistically significant. With one unit increase in the Transverse process distance T 12 (TDM T12), there is an increase of 0.42 units in height (P=0.02).

According to the results of the present study, the measurements of the T12, L1, and L5 vertebral indices have a significant relationship with gender. Among the measurements of the T12, L1, and L5 vertebral indices, just TDM T12 can be a predictive factor to estimate the height of the Iranian population