Determination of Stature From Index and Ring Finger Lengths in South Indian Population

Abstract

Introduction: Personal identification is an important role of forensic experts during mass disasters like earth quakes, tsunamis, and plane crash etc. Stature determination is an important factor in establishing identity in forensic practice. Forensic anthropometrists use various anthropometric techniques to determine stature from such dismembered body parts. These techniques aim to derive equations from various body measurements that could estimate stature in males and females. Aim: The aim of present study is to correlate index and ring finger lengths and stature in both sexes and to derive linear regression equations to estimate stature. Materials and Method: The study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College Bangalore in the year 2019. The material consisted of 150 young and healthy students (66 males and 84 females) in the age group of 20-21 years after taking informed consent to participate in the study. Subjects of south Indian origin were selected based on their mother tongue. The data obtained were computed and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 25.0) computer software. Results: In the present study, mean stature, index finger length and ring finger length were significantly higher in males than females. Statistically significant correlation was observed between stature, index finger length and ring finger length in right and left hands. Correlation coefficient was higher among males than females. Among males left ring finger length and in females right index finger length showed more correlation with the stature. Conclusion: Sex specific linear regression formulae were derived for estimating stature from index finger length and ring finger length. Study concludes that stature can be estimated from the index finger length and ring finger lengthwith a reasonable accuracy among South Indians.