A Study Of “Estimation Of Stature From Foot Length Measurements Among Health Science Students Of North Karnataka Region-A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Identification of a person is of prime and foremost importance in both civil and criminal cases. Though there are several parameters which help in identifying a person, stature is one of the important parameter as it is an inherent characteristic. Stature is the height of the person in upright position. It is considered as one of the important parameters for personal identification and helps in partial identification of unknown human remains. Estimation of foot length provides important evidence in a crime scene investigation as it helps in estimation of stature of an individual. Estimation of body height from its segments or dismember parts has important considerations for partial identification of living or dead human body or remains recovered from mass disasters. Objectives: The present study was carried out with the following objectives 1. To estimate stature from foot measurements among health science students hailing from North Karnataka region aged 21 years and above (Districts included are Gulbarga, Bijapur, Gadag, Dharwad, Belagavi, Haveri, and Bagalkot) and 2. To evolve regression equation for estimation of stature from foot length in both male & female, which in-turn will help in partial identification of the individual. . Methodology: Total of 150 students (75 male and 75 female students) studying in various health science institutions of K.L.E Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi aged 21 years and above were included in the study. Sampling Method: Preparing a list of students of constituent colleges of K.L.E academy of Higher Education and Research born and brought up in North Karnataka region and from this list randomly picking 15 males and 15 females from each college as there are 5 colleges. Measurement of Foot length: The foot length was measured independently on right and left side of each individual. The subjects were made to stand on a pre-calibrated Osteometric board with bare footed in such a manner that the posterior point of the heel is gently touched the backrest part of the board. A vertical stop is placed against the anterior most point of foot i,e the tip of hallux or tip of second toe ( if toe is larger than hallux). The distance between the posterior most point of the heel (Pternion) and anterior most point (Acropodian) of the foot measured as foot length in centimeters. Measurement of Height of individual: The stature of the individual is measured by height measuring instrument (Stadiometer) marked in mm, cms and inches. The subjects were asked to stand barefooted in anatomical straight position without support and the arms by the side of the body. The sliding head plate is brought into firm contact with the vertex of the subject. Height of each student was measured in standing erect anatomical position from heel to the vertex of head in centimeters. All the findings were recorded in a standard proforma. The measurements were taken at a fixed time between 2 pm to 4 pm to eliminate the possibility of diurnal variation and by only one observer in order to avoid inter-observer error. Results: A positive and statistically significant correlation between stature and right foot length and left foot length was observed in both the sexes. Regression equations for stature estimation were formulated using right and left foot length separately in both the sexes. Conclusion: The results indicate that foot length provides an important means in estimating the stature of an unknown individual. There is no statistically significant difference in the stature estimated by right and left foot length in both the sexes