Estimation of Stature from Hand and Handprint Measurements among Some Egyptians Using Flatbed Scanner

Nagla Salama

doi:10.21608/ajfm.2013.19375

Abstract

Stature is used for constructing a biological profile that assists with the identification of an individual. Currently, estimation of stature is performed from fleshed and skeletal remains. There has been little attempt to use complete or partial hand impressions left at scene of crime for estimating stature. The aim of the present study, therefore, is to assess the reliability and accuracy of using hand and handprint measurements for the estimation of stature among Egyptian. The study is conducted on 100 males and 100 females in the age group of 21 to 45 years. Stature of each subject is recorded. Following scanning of both hands and converting photos into handprints, eight measurements are taken on each hand and its corresponding print. Using student t. test, significant sex difference are found for all studied parameters where P ≤ 0.05 for all measurements. There is no statistically significant difference between left and right hand measurements in both sexes. Hand length showed the highest correlation with stature where r= 0.517 in males and 0.781 in females. Correlation coefficients are higher in females than in males as regards all measurements except for hand breadth. All handprint measurements are correlated with stature in both males and females (P≤0.05) except for handprint breadth (P=0.38 in males and o.183 in females). Stature is strongly correlated with handprint length in females r=0. 741 and thumb print length in males r=0.514.Stature prediction accuracy using hand and handprint measurements ranges from 0.978 to 2.98. Multiple regressions reveal nearly the same values obtained by linear regression equations. Comparison between actual stature and the estimated ones showed non-statistical significant differences where p≥0.05 for hand and hand print measurements. Hand and handprint measurements are considered a good source for estimating stature in forensic practice among adult Egyptians.

Highlights

Forensic anthropology has a varied array of means and methods to identify unknown commingled human remains (Iscan, 2008, kumar and Chandra, 2006)
Anthropometric techniques are commonly used by anthropologists and adopted by medical scientists to estimate body size for the purpose of identification (Ozaslan et al, 2003)
Stature estimation is an important step in the identification of dismembered remains

Summary

Introduction

Forensic anthropology has a varied array of means and methods to identify unknown commingled human remains (Iscan, 2008, kumar and Chandra, 2006). It is the duty of a medicolegal expert to determine, to the best of his ability, the true identity of unidentified remains. Anthropometric techniques are commonly used by anthropologists and adopted by medical scientists to estimate body size for the purpose of identification (Ozaslan et al, 2003). Over the past 20 years, many studies have been conducted in forensic anthropology to assess and estimate stature of different parts of the body to be able to identify victims (Komar and Buikstra, 2008)

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