Estimation of stature from cephalo-facial anthropometry in north Indian population

Abstract

Estimation of stature is considered as an important parameter in medico-legal and forensic examinations. When highly decomposed and mutilated dead bodies with fragmentary remains are brought for postmortem examination, it becomes difficult to identify the deceased. Sometimes, cephalo-facial remains are brought in for forensic and postmortem examination. In such a situation, estimation of stature becomes equally important along with other parameters like age, sex, race, etc. (the ‘Big Four’ of forensic anthropology). The present investigation attempts to estimate stature from various anthropometric measurements of cephalo-facial region of individuals belonging to an endogamous group in north India. The material for the present study comprises 996 adult male Gujjars of north India ranging in age from 18 to 30 years. Five cephalo-facial measurements were taken on each subject following internationally recommended standard methods and techniques. The results indicate that all the cephalo-facial measurements are strongly and positively correlated ( p < 0.001) with stature. The measurements of the cephalic region have strong correlation with stature than those of facial region. The regression analysis also showed that the cephalic measurements give better prediction of stature. The regression formulae were checked for their accuracy and reliability not only in the sample which was originally used for making these formulae (genetically disparate population, n = 996) but also in a mixed population of north India (heterogeneous population, n = 100).