Assessing the accuracy of soft-tissue correction factors for stature estimation in White South African males

Abstract

It is widely accepted that living stature (LS) is most accurately estimated when using the anatomical method, however, recent research has questioned the accuracies of the soft-tissue correction factors associated with this method. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the soft-tissue correction factors associated with the anatomical method for the estimation of LS of White South African males.

White South African males volunteered to undergo a full-body MRI scan at the WitsDonald Gordon Medical Centre. The bones directly contributing to stature were measured from these scans, used to determine total skeletal height (TSH), and estimate each participant’s stature. The accuracies of these estimates were assessed using paired t-tests.

Fully’s (1956) soft-tissue correction factors, as well as Raxter and colleagues’ (2006), and Brits and colleagues’ (2017) soft-tissue regression equations significantly underestimated the stature of White South African males by 6.14cm, 4.80cm, and 0.96cm, respectively, while, Bidmos and Manger’s (2012) regression equation significantly overestimated stature by 9.65cm. Cloete’s (2017) regression equation overestimated the stature of White South African males by 0.65cm, however, this was not significant. A Pearson’s correlation indicated a strong, positive correlation between TSH and measured LS, and a soft-tissue regression equation was derived to improve the accuracy of the anatomical method for this group.

Results suggest population differences regarding soft-tissue correction factors, and therefore, it is suggested that either the newly derived regression equation from this study or that of Cloete (2017) be used to estimate the LS of White South African males.