Journal of Forensic Identification 74 (3), 2024 \ 201 Article Stepwise Multiple Regression Formulae for Estimating the Total Skeletal Height Using Patellar Measures Thom Kaledzera 1 2 Amanda Alblas 1 Nadine Rampf 1 Abstract: The patella is often available for biological profile estimation. However, there is a lack of information supporting the use of the patella in total skeletal height estimation. This study was thus conducted to evaluate the applicability of patellar measures in estimating total skeletal height. Fifty-two complete skeletons of known age-at-death and sex were sampled. The revised Fully’s anatomical method was used to establish total skeletal height for each sampled skeleton. Additionally, six patellar measurements (maximal height, maximum breadth, maximum thickness, height of the articular facet, lateral articular facet width, and medial articular facet width) were measured using a sliding digital calliper. Pearson correlation and simple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between each patellar measure and total skele- tal height. Stepwise multiple linear regression objectively selected combinations of patellar measures for accurate total skeletal height estimation. Each patel- lar measure showed a significant positive linear correlation with total skeletal height (p < 0.001). Maximum thickness showed the highest correlation for the right (r = 0.814) and left patella (r = 0.772). Stepwise multiple regression selected maximum thickness and maximum height as total skeletal height predictor vari- ables for the left patella (SEE = 55.478 mm), whereas maximum thickness and height of the articular facet were chosen for the right (SEE = 50.478 mm). These results show that patellar measurements can be used to accurately estimate the total skeletal height. This information could be helpful to forensic anthropolo- gists, especially when estimating the living stature in the absence of a complete skeleton.. 1 Division of Clinical Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Services, Stellenbosch Univ., Cape Town, South Africa 2 Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Allied Health Professionals, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi