Percutaneous clavicular length among Nigerian students of Delta State University: Clinical and forensic implications

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Evaluating the clavicle’s length in forensic investigations can aid in sex determination and estimation of stature. It is also useful in ensuring successful surgical reduction of clavicular fractures. This study’s goal was to determine the percutaneous length of the clavicle and elucidate their clinical and forensic applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred students from a university in Delta State Nigeria were recruited after seeking ethical approval. We sought informed consent from the participants before the measurements of percutaneous clavicular length and height were taken. Using the statistical package for social sciences, the comparison of mean variables based on side, sex and age-groups was done. We employed linear regression analysis to derive equations that incorporated the percutaneous clavicular lengths to aid in estimating stature. RESULTS: Males had longer clavicles than females (P<0.05). The clavicles demonstrated positive correlation with stature (P<0.05). The left percutaneous clavicular length was a better predictor of height than the right (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study provides clavicular length data useful to orthopaedic surgeons and forensic experts in Delta State, Nigeria.