143 Int J Res Med. 2015; 4(4);143- 148 e ISSN:2320-2742 p ISSN: 2320-2734
A Study Of Estimation Of Stature From Measurements Of Hand
In Males Of Bhavnagar - Gujarat.
Tejas C. Patel1*, Amit P. Parmar2, Dipti C. Parmar3, Sweety I. Patel4, Love R. Bhagora5
1
Third Year Resident, 2Professor and Head, Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 3Associate Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar. 364001, 4Tutor, Dept. of Physiology, GMERS Medical College, Valsad, 5 Tutor, Dept. of Physiology, GMERS Medical College, Valsad.
INTRODUCTION
Stature is anatomically complex that includes the dimensions of legs, pelvis, vertebral column and skull & the contribution of each of these to the total varies in different individuals and also in different populations and estimation of stature from different body parts and the relationship between them is an area of interest to forensic experts, anthropologists and anatomists. Anthropometry, the typical and the traditional tool of physical anthropology, provides the scientific methods and the techniques for taking various
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Tejas C. Patel Third Year Resident
Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar
Mobile : 8980035496
E-mail : drtejaspatel.3103@gmail.com
measurements for observations of living and their skeleton1. Therefore anthropometry is being widely used in medical science, especially in forensic sciences, for the identification which is an important step in crime investigation. A need was felt to explode the basic subjects to multidisciplinary specialities and one of the best examples is confluence of medicine with forensic science and more precisely forensic medicine with anthropology as forensic anthropology. The ultimate aim is to help the law enforcement agencies in achieving
'Personal Identity' in case of unknown human remains2. In cases of mass disasters and war casualties, the body appendages like hand may be found intact and well preserved in many cases as compared to other body parts. The identification and evaluation of deadbodies or dismembered body parts is become a challenging task
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
ABSRTACT :
INTRODUCTION: Estimation of stature is one of the important parameters used for establishing the individuality, hence occupies a unique position in medicolegal cases and anthropological research works. Thus estimation of stature from different body parts and the relationship between them is an area of interest to forensic experts, anthropologists and anatomists. OBJECTIVES: To find out the relationship of stature and hand measurements and derive population specific regression equations for estimation of stature in males. METHODS: In present study , total 250 healthy male individuals between 18 - 25 years of age belonging to Bhavnagar region were selected. All the individuals were measured for hand length & hand breadth separately on right and left side and also for stature. All the data were subjected to statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel 2007 Software (Data Analysis). RESULTS: The present study showed statistically significant and positive correlation between stature and measurements of hand. Stature had statistically significant (p < 0.001) and higher value of correlation(r) as 0.783, 0.784 and 0.784 for right, left and mean hand length and 0.711, 0.708 and 0.710 for right, left and mean hand breadth respectively. Simple and multiple linear regression equations were derived for specific study population to estimate stature from hand measurements. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Hand measurements exhibited statistically significant and positive correlation with stature. It is also concluded that the multiple regression formulae were the better indicator of stature estimation than simple regression equations.
144 Int J Res Med. 2015; 4(4);143- 148 e ISSN:2320-2742 p ISSN: 2320-2734 for forensic experts. Thus, we can find out
approximate stature and relationship between stature and body appendages in such cases for establishing the identity which is very important in Corpus Delicti. Keeping this in mind, this study was carried out for estimation of stature of 250 healthy male individuals between 18 - 25 years of age belonging to Bhavnagar region by regression equation formula from hand measurements.
OBJECTIVES
(1) To find out the relationship between stature (Dependable Variable) and hand measurements (Independent Variable). (2) To derive population specific regression equations for estimation of stature from the measurements of hand in male population (mainly in 18 to 25 years age group) of Bhavnagar region.
METHODOLOGY & MATERIALS The present cross sectional study was conducted during 2014-15 in which total 250 asymptomatic , healthy male individuals between 18 - 25 years of age belonging to Bhavnagar region were selected irrespective of their caste, religion, dietary habits & socio-economic status.
Exclusion Criteria :
1. Individuals with growth disorders, deformities, bony anomalies and h/o fracture of long bones were excluded. 2. Age group below 18 and above 25 years.
IRB Ethical Committee permission was taken prior to study. The procedure, aims & objectives of the study was explained and written informed consent was obtained
from each of the participants before taking measurements. Height (stature) : Each individual was asked to stand barefoot on Standard anthropometric measuring instrument Anthropometer (stadiometer) in anatomical position with head being oriented in the Frankfurt's plane. The stature is measured from distance between the standing surface and vertex (highest point of head). Hand Length : With the help of sliding vernier caliper , hand length was measured as a straight distance from midpoint of a line connecting the styloid process of radius and ulna to the most anterior projecting point of middle finger. Hand Breadth : It was measured as the distance between the most prominent point outside of the lower epiphyses of the 2nd metacarpal (metacarpal radiale., i.e., point most laterally projected on the head of the 2nd metacarpal) to the most prominent inside point of the lower epiphyses 5th metacarple (metacarpal ulnare: the most laterally projecting point of the head of the 5th metacarpal) using of sliding vernier caliper. A small group of individuals were selected for taking various measurements each day at a fixed time in afternoon (12:00 pm to 3:00 pm) to avoid diurnal variations. It is measured and recorded only by the author, to avoid inter-observer error in methodology. All the measurements will recorded thrice and their mean will be calculated for accuracy. All the measurements were taken in cms. All measurements of hand were taken separately for right and left side for each individual. All the data were subjected to statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel 2007 Software (Data Analysis).
RESULTS :
Table 1 : Descriptive Statistics of Various Parameters in male
Stature Right Hand
Length
Left Hand
Length
Right Hand
Breadth
Left Hand
Breadth
Mean 171.09 18.89 18.85 8.37 8.35
Median 170.9 18.9 18.8 8.5 8.4
Mode 171.3 18.9 18.8 8.5 8.5
Minimum 155.6 17.1 17.1 7.1 7.1
Maximum 185.2 21.6 21.6 9.9 9.9
Range 29.6 4.5 4.5 2.8 2.8
SD 5.39 0.76 0.77 0.43 0.44
145 Int J Res Med. 2015; 4(4);143- 148 e ISSN:2320-2742 p ISSN: 2320-2734 The results of present study show mean
stature ± SD was 171.09 ± 5.39, right hand length ± SD was 18.89 ± 0.76, left hand length ± SD was 18.85 ± 0.77, right hand breadth ± SD was 8.37 ± 0.43, left hand breadth ± SD was 8.35 ± 0.44 in male individuals of Bhavnagar region. (Table 1) Table 2 : Table Showing Correlation(r)
Between Stature and Hand
Measurements Sr.
No Parameters
Pearson
Correlation 'P' Value
1 Right Hand
Length (RTHL)
0.783 < 0.001**
2 Left Hand
Length (LTHL)
0.784 < 0.001**
3 Mean Hand
Length(HL)
0.784 < 0.001**
4 Right Hand
Breadth (RTHB)
0.711 < 0.001**
5 Left Hand
Breadth (LTHB)
0.708 < 0.001**
6 Mean Hand
Breadth (HB)
0.710 < 0.001**
** Correlation is statistically highly significant
Table 2 illustrates the correlation coefficients between stature and measurements of hand. In present study, the highest correlation coefficient was observed between stature and mean hand length as 0.784 and lowest value of correlation as 0.708 was for left hand breadth which was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001) and these relationship was also explained by graph 1 & 2 due to strong association as straight line in scatter diagrams. So from these relationship, the regression equation formulae were derived for stature estimation from hand measurements for males.
Graph 1 & 2 : Scatter Diagram Representing Relationship Between Dependent Variable (Stature) and Independent Variables (Hand Length & Hand Breadth)
Table 3 : Paired Samples t-Test Showing Statistical Difference Between Right and Left Side
Paired Sample t DF 'P'
Value
Pair-1
Right Hand
Length - Left Hand Length
11.0
9 249
< 0.001* *
Pair-2
Right Hand
Breadth - Left Hand
Breadth
8.03 249 < 0.001* *
**Statistically highly significant, DF : Degree of Freedom
Paired t test was performed to analyse statistical difference between right and left side of observations for males which showed statistically highly significant bilateral variation (p < 0.001) (Table 3).
150 160 170 180 190
0 5 10 15
S
T
A
T
UR
E
(
cm
)
HAND BREADTH (cm) STATURE MEAN 150 160 170 180 190
0 20 40
S
T
A
T
UR
E
(
cm
)
146 Int J Res Med. 2015; 4(4);143- 148 e ISSN:2320-2742 p ISSN: 2320-2734
Table 4 : Linear Regression Equations for Estimation of Stature DV : Dependent Variable, IV : Independent Variable,
SEE : Standard Error of Estimate
Table 4 shows simple linear regression equation derived for stature estimation from hand length and hand breadth and also the values of R2, Adjusted R2 and SEE mentioned in this table. The higher value of R, R2, Adjusted R2 and Lower value of SEE indicate relative accuracy and reliability of the formulae. So, the best simple linear regression formulae was derived for stature estimation in males from mean hand length was as follows,Stature = 66.72 + 5.532(HL) ± 3.352
Table 5 : Multiple Regression Equations for Estimation of Stature
Table 5 shows multiple regression equation derived for stature estimation from hand length and hand breadth measurements. So, the best multiple regression formulae was derived for stature estimation in males from right hand length and breadth measurements was as
follows, Stature= 65.572 +
4.084(RTHL) + 3.469(RTHB) ± 3.220 As mentioned earlier that the reliability and accuracy of formulae depends on higher value of R, R2, Adjusted R2 and Lower value of SEE. Thus, the observations of present study exhibit that multiple regression formulae were better predictor of stature as compared to simple linear equations.
DISCUSSIONS
Many studies in the past have been carried out by different researchers to estimate the stature from various body parts as well as long bones by using regression formulae but only precaution that can be taken in to consideration is, formulae are applicable to concerned region from which data has been collected because of inherent population variation in these measurements. In present study, bilateral variations were statistically significant(p<0.001)for all the measurements of hand, which was supported by Sunil et al3 study, while on the other hand, some previous studies conducted by Pal A et al4 and Jasuja OP et al5 reported no any bilateral variation for hand length. In present study, the mean stature of males was 171.09 ± 5.39 cms
and ranged between 155.6 cms to 185.2 cms which was also consistent with previous studies like Patel SM et al6, Patel R et al7, Pandey N et al8.
DV IV Hand Measurements R2 Adjusted R2 SEE
Stature 66.46 + 5.54 (RTHL) 0.612 0.611 3.360
Stature 67.30 + 5.507(LTHL) 0.614 0.613 3.352
Stature
66.72 + 5.532 (HL) 0.614 0.613 3.352
Stature
96.85 + 8.87 (RTHB) 0.506 0.504 3.795
Stature
98.011 + 8.75 (LTHB) 0.501 0.499 3.814
Stature
97.214 + 8.835 (HB) 0.505 0.503 3.799
DV IV Hand Measurements R2 Adjusted R2 SEE
Stature 65.572 + 4.084(RTHL)+
3.469(RTHB) 0.646 0.643 3.220
Stature 66.885 + 4.118(LTHL) +
3.185(LTHB) 0.642 0.639 3.238
Stature 66.125 + 4.088 (HL) + 3.329
147 Int J Res Med. 2015; 4(4);143- 148 e ISSN:2320-2742 p ISSN: 2320-2734
Table 6 : Comparison Of Various Studies To Estimate Stature From Hand Length Table 6 shows comparison of various studies to estimate stature from hand length in males. In present study, stature had correlation(r) with right, left and mean hand length were 0.783, 0.784 and 0.784 respectively, which were statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). Various previous studies conducted by Sunil et al3, Rastogi P et al9 showed similar value of correlation coefficient while Patel R et al7 exhibited highest value of 'r' as 0.951. Present
study also revealed the lower value of SEE as 3.360, 3.352 and 3.352 for stature estimation from right, left and mean hand length respectively as compared to all other studies mentioned in table 6.
Table 7 : Comparison Of Various Studies To Estimate Stature From Hand Breadth Table 7 shows comparison of various
studies to estimate stature from hand
breadth in males. In present study, stature had correlation(r) with right, left and mean hand breadth were 0.711, 0.708 and 0.710 respectively, which were statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). All previous studies mentioned in table 8 showed lower value of 'r' and higher value of SEE as compared to present study. In present study, it was concluded that the reliability and accuracy for estimation of stature were better in multiple linear regression equations than simple linear regression formulae.
CONCLUSION
All the body parts show biological variation with respect to age, sex and racial group. So this fact can be utilized to estimate the size of one part of body by using other part of body. The same principle holds good to estimate the stature
from body parts. Both hand length and hand breadth measurements exhibited
statistically highly significant value of correlation in males of Bhavnagar region (p < 0.001).Simple and multiple linear regression equations have been calculated from data which can be useful to estimate stature from hand measurements for concerned study population. It is also concluded that the multiple regression formulae were the better indicator of stature estimation than simple regression equations.
REFERANCES
1. Singh IP, Bhasin MK.
Anthropometry. A laboratory manual on biological anthropometry. Delhi: Kamla-raj Enterprises; 1968.
2. Krishan K. Anthropometry in Forensic Medicine and Forensic Science- 'Forensic Anthropometry'. Sr.
No Author's Name Population Year 'r' Value
Regression
Equation SEE
1 Sunil et al Delhi 2005 0.7 86.93+4.25(RTHL) 4.35
2 Sunil et al Delhi 2005 0.6 85.84+4.32(LTHL) 4.26
3 Rastogi P
et al North India 2008 0.659 81.343+4.78(HL) 5.00
4 Rastogi P
et al South India 2008 0.731 69.006+5.47(HL) 4.85
5 Patel R et al Gujarat 2014 0.951 103.2 + 3.606(HL) 2.413
6 Patel JP et al Gujarat 2014 0.51 125.15+2.69(RTHL) --
7 Patel JP et al Gujarat 2014 0.504 125.67+ 2.67(LTHL) --
8 Present Study Bhavnagar 2015 0.783 66.46+5.54(RTHL) 3.360
9 Present Study Bhavnagar 2015 0.784 67.30+5.507(LTHL) 3.352
10 Present Study Bhavnagar 2015 0.784 66.72 + 5.532 (HL) 3.352
Sr.
No Author's Name Population Year 'r' Value
Regression
Equation SEE
1 Singh SD et al11 Manipur 2005 0.482 107.21 + 5.56(HB) 5.48
2 Rastogi P et al North India 2008 0.504 98.547 + 9.07(HB) 5.74
3 Rastogi P et al South India 2008 0.594 84.34 + 10.81(HB) 5.71
4 Dey S et al12 Udaipur Bhils 2015 0.349 122.27 + 5(RTHB) 5.24
5 Dey S et al12 Udaipur Bhils 2015 0.328 122.49+4.79(LTHB) 5.24
6 Present Study Bhavnagar 2015 0.711 96.85+8.87(RTHB) 3.795
7 Present Study Bhavnagar 2015 0.708 98.011+8.75(LTHB) 3.814
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