Background: The determination of living stature is a key component of personal identification of individuals. In this study, we developed predictive regression models and multiplication factors to reliably estimate living stature from foot length and breadth in adult Nigerian undergraduate students at the University of Lagos. Materials and methods: The study sample comprised 400 subjects (200 males and 200 females) of Nigerian parentage, aged 18-36 years who volunteered and satisfied the inclusion criteria. Following institutional approval, anthropometric measurements of stature, foot length, and foot breadth were taken with a stadiometer, a large sliding caliper and a small sliding vernier caliper respectively according to the protocol recommended by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). The data was analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS statistical package version 20. Results: Mean stature values of 176.44 ± 6.47 cm, 164.71 ± 6.70 cm, and 169.80 ± 8.79 cm were recorded for the males, females, and the pooled sample respectively. The mean values of the foot dimensions (right and left) in the males, females, and the pooled sample ranged from 9.49 ± 0.73 to 27.29 ± 1.30 cm. Independent t test exhibited statistically significant gender differences (P < 0.05) for all the parameters except age, with the males having consistently higher values than the females. Paired t test revealed the existence of bilateral asymmetry between right and left foot dimensions, except for the foot length in the males (P < 0.05). Significant positive correlation coefficients of stature with the foot length and breadth dimensions were found to range from 0.344 to 0.832 in the study. The multiplication factors computed for stature prediction from foot length and breadth ranged from 6.465 to 18.301 in the males, females, and the pooled sample. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that stature can be predicted from foot dimensions, with the foot length showing more accuracy and reliability than the foot breadth. The prediction models established from this study will be very useful in disaster victim identification from mutilated human remains in Nigeria.

This study aimed to derive predictive equations for stature estimation using shoe print dimensions of adult Nigerian medical students in the University of Lagos.A sample of 230 volunteers (100 males and 130 females) of Nigerian parentage, aged 18 -36 years comprised this cross-sectional study. Stature and 460 bi-lateral shoe prints were obtained from the participants using a stadiometer and ink pads. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.Sexual dimorphism in stature and shoe print dimensions were found to be highly significant (p < 0.05), with the males having greater values than the females. Paired t-test revealed statistically significant bi-lateral differences in shoe print dimensions for the females and the pooled sample (p < 0.05). The right shoe print length (RSPL) exhibited the highest correlation with stature in the males, females and the pooled sample, with values of 0.483, 0.607 and 0.772, respectively. The shoe print breadths in the males, females and the pooled sample were significantly correlated with stature, except the left shoe print breadth (LSPB) in the females (r = 0.148).This study has demonstrated that shoe print dimensions are significantly correlated with stature, with the shoe print length showing more reliability in stature prediction than the shoe print breadth.

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Anthropometric databases are essential in biological pro- This study presents a simple and reliable approach to predict stature, which may help forensic scientists in disaster victim identification and in medico-legal jurisprudence. has become necessary for regression formulae to be documented which will serve as reference points. Hence, the present study on stature reconstruction from percutaneous long bones of adult Nigerian medical students at the University of Lagos was carried out. Materials and Methods Ethical ApprovalIn order to carry out this study, ethical approval was Informed ConsentA signed informed consent was obtained from for all participants. First, the procedure for measurement, purpose for the research and possible personal benefits were explained to the participants through information contained in the official informed consent document. All participants received a guarantee of respect and preservation of their personal information, anonymity throughout the measurements and the right to withdraw, if so desired, at any stage for any reason. Study DesignThe present study sample comprises 230 (100 males and 130 females) undergraduate and post-graduate medi-