Hand Index- A Forensic Tool for Sexual Dimorphism

Abstract

Introduction:Amongst the various parameters of identification, sex is one of the most important elements. Figuring out hand index from measurement of hand dimensions is a convenient way to determine sexual dimorphism. This study aims to find out sexual dimorphism from hand dimensions, obtain cut off points for male and female and check percentage accuracy of sex determination from hand dimensions in Nepalese population. Methods: The data was collected from 400 asymptomatic, healthy working staff (229 males and 171 females) above 23 years in the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of a tertiary care center of Western Nepal. Measurements of hand length and hand breadth were taken using standard instruments and hand index was calculated therefrom. Results: The mean (+SD) right hand lengths for male and female were found to be 17.87 cm (+0.87) and 16.93cm (+0.58) respectively. The mean (+SD) left hand lengths for male and female were 17.85 cm (+0.86)and 16.97 cm (+0.56) respectively. The average hand breadth for male was 1.00 cm greater for right hand and 0.96 cm greater for left hand as compared to female hand breadth. Differences in length and breadth of hands for both sexes were statistically significant (p<0.001) with no statistically significant difference of hand dimensions in the same sex. Cut off point for right hand index was found to be 42.32 cm and for left hand, 42.30 cm. Conclusion: Hand dimensions and hand index can be reliably used to determine sex in medicolegal cases, especially where isolated hand is obtained. Sah SK. et al. Hand Index -A forensic tool for Sexual Dimorphism index are 42.32 and 42.30 respectively. Hand index value more than 42.30 is suggestive of male hand and less than 42.30 is suggestive of female hand. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology and all the participants who volunteered for this study.

Estimation of Sex from Hand Dimensions in an Indigenous Karbi Adult Population of Assam, India

“…The average hand index in males was 47.73 whereas the female hand index was 45.46 (Table 2). Several research investigations have been carried out on sex determination from hand dimensions (HL and HB) and also suggest the findings that males have significantly larger hand dimensions than the females counterparts (Aboul-Hagag et al 2011;Rani et al 2011;Sen et al 2011;Asha et al 2012;Ibrahim et al 2016;Varu et al 2016;Caplova et al 2017;Gupta et al 2017;Singh and Yadav 2017;Sah and Jeelani 2019). Results of the present investigation showed sex-specific mean differences in HL and HB (p<0.05) (Table 3).…”

“…The individual hand, when recovered and brought for forensic examination, can provide valuable information about the age, sex and stature of the person (Robling and Ubelaker 1997;Sen et al 2014;Jeanson et al 2017;Adelakun et al 2019;Singh et al 2019a,b). There are several research investigations, which have been undertaken to establish the relation between sex and hand dimensions in terms of HL and HB in adults (Sen et al 2011;Asha et al 2012;Uhrova et al 2015;Ibrahim et al 2016;Varu et al 2016;Caplova et al 2017;Gupta et al 2017;Singh and Yadav 2017;Sah and Jeelani 2019). The results of the present investigation showed that the male hands are significantly larger compared to the female counterparts thus showing sexual dimorphism on the basis of hand length (HL) (p<0.05) (Table 1).…”

“…Therefore, the results of the present investigation indicate that hand dimensions (HL and HB) can be used to determine sex with higher accuracy and HB found to have relatively higher predictability than HL (p<0.01) ( Table 6). Several investigations have been reported, which support the findings that hand dimensions showing the association with sex in individuals/population (Sen et al 2011;Ishak et al 2012;Ibrahim et al 2016;Varu et al 2016;Singh and Yadav 2017;Sah and Jeelani 2019;Zulkifly et al 2018). The AUC-ROC analysis was performed to determine the predictive accuracy after predicting the probability of HL and HB in sex estimation in adults.…”

“…The problem arises when the body parts found are in a fragmented or mutilated state in mass disasters, accidents, explosions and crime scenes (Agnihotri et al 2005;Rani et al 2011;Uhrová et al 2015;Pal et al 2016;Bindurani et al 2017). Sometimes a forensic anthropologist works with skeletonised or badly decomposed body segments and collect osteometric data, which is generally straight forward in population (Sarode et al 2009; García-J Life Science, 12(1-2): 1-11 (2020) Parra et al 2014;Jee et al 2015;Curate et al 2017;Monum et al 2017;Ubelaker and DeGaglia 2017;Sah and Jeelani 2019).…”

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“…The problem arises when the body parts found are in a fragmented or mutilated state in mass disasters, accidents, explosions and crime scenes (Agnihotri et al 2005;Rani et al 2011;Uhrová et al 2015;Pal et al 2016;Bindurani et al 2017). Sometimes a forensic anthropologist works with skeletonised or badly decomposed body segments and collect osteometric data, which is generally straight forward in population (Sarode et al 2009; García-J Life Science, 12(1-2): 1-11 (2020) Parra et al 2014;Jee et al 2015;Curate et al 2017;Monum et al 2017;Ubelaker and DeGaglia 2017;Sah and Jeelani 2019).…”