Stature and its Estimation Utilizing Hand and Foot Measurements in North Indian Population

Abstract

Background: Stature estimation from body measurements is an important part of forensic and medico-legal cases especially in victim identifcation, where mutilated and amputated body parts are encountered at the crime scene. Hand and foot dimensions are the important features in context of stature estimation. The present study was conducted to find out the correlation of length and breadth of hand and foot in the stature of the North Indians. Methods: Anthropometric data from 413 males and 413 females were collected. Simple and multiple linear regression methods were used for estimation of stature from hand length, hand breadth, foot length and foot breadth measurements. Results: Statistically signifcant results (p <0.001) are obtained with each measurement when the derived model is tested for stature estimation. Hand length in both sexes showed highest correlation with the stature whereas foot breadth showed the lowest. Multiple regression models showed low standard error of estimate (SEE). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that, from a forensic stand point, measurements of the hands and feet may be employed to estimate the stature of North Indian populations.