Estimation of stature from measurements of long bones, hand and foot dimensions.

ABSTRACT

Estimation of stature holds a special place in the field of Forensic anthropometry. The present study is an attempt to evaluate a possible correlation between stature of an individual & six parameters; hand-length, hand-width, foot-length, foot-width, forearm length & knee-to-ankle length individually in a local population of Mumbai. A sample of 300 medical students; 147 male & 153 female studying in Grant Medical College & Sir JJ Group of Hospitals was considered & measurements were taken for each of the parameters. It was found that all the six parameters showed a correlation with stature but at different degrees (significance calculated through the paired t-test). Forearm-length showed the highest degree of correlation (r = 0.6558) followed by foot-length (r = 0.6102). Knee-to-ankle length showed the lowest degree of correlation (r = 0.2086). Mathematical formulae for estimating stature were developed for each of these parameters through basic linear regression. It can be concluded that the present study has provided regression equations for six different parameters that can be used for stature estimation in the population of Mumbai. These equations should not be used for other Indian population groups.