Stature estimation from digit length, bi-acromian and bi-illiac length: a study among two populations from eastern and north eastern India

Abstract

Background: Identification of human remains in medico-legal situation contribution of forensic anthropology is imperative. Forensic anthropology deals with identification of age, sex and ethnicity. Apart from that estimation of stature is found to be one of the major parameters of forensic anthropology, is an essential element of medico-legal investigations when identifications of unknown dismembered remains are involved. The publication regarding estimation of statute seems to be scanty from Eastern India and specially from North East India.Aim: The present study was conducted with an aim to estimate stature from 2D, 4D, Bi-acromian length and Bi-illiac length of adult age matched females belonging to Bengalee Hindu Caste Population from Eastern India and one of the ethnic groups (Chakmas) of North East India (Tripura). Materials and methods:To achieve the purpose, the participants of the present study were comprised of 100 Chakma females and 100 Bengalee females of 25 to 35 years age ranges. Prior to the study verbal consent were obtained from the participants. The ring finger is the fourth digit (4D) of the human hand and the second most ulnar finger located between the middle finger and the little finger while the index finger is the second digit (2D), located between the thumb and the middle finger and usually the most dexterous and sensitive finger of the hand were measured using standard method. Along with digit measurements, stature was obtained using standard technique. Obtained data were doubly checked and analyzed using the SPSS (Version-16.0). Descriptive and inferential statistics were done in appropriate places and cut off was set as p=0.05. Results:Distributions of the anthropometric variables including 2D and 4D demonstrated significant (p<0.05) between the age matched Bengalee and the Chakma females for all the characteristics. Examination of estimation of stature using multiplication factors revealed least mean value for the bi-illiac length while, the highest being the mean value for 2D among both the population. However, the comparison between the population the mean multiplication factors for estimation of stature, the length of 2D, 4D and Bi-illac length demonstrated significant (p<0.05) difference between the two population groups. So far the forensic issues concern regarding the stature estimation by multiplication factors, the best predictors were Bi-illica length followed by Bi-acromian length for both the studied populations. The correlation analysis demonstrated most of the measurements demonstrated significant (p<0.05) positive correlation with stature except bi-acromian and bi-illiac among the Bengalee females and Chakma females respectively. Conclusion:The study concludes that stature estimation from 2D and 4D lengths along with bi-acromian and bi-illiac lengths could be utilized for specific population group.

Estimation of Stature from the Length of Index Finger (2DL) and Ring Finger (4DL) in Nepalese Adults

“…Our attempt to find correlation between length of index and ring finger with the stature of males and females showed statistically significant positive correlation between them, which was valuable in estimating the stature of a Nepalese adult. Similar findings have been documented by many researchers [1,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]22] but stature and body parts ratio being a population specific trait we pioneered to formulate a simple linear regression equation to ascertain stature from 2DL and 4DL in Nepalese population.…”

“…In situations where sophisticated methods are not available or where such methods have limitations, simple anthropological methods can have much usefulness [1]. Many studies have revealed the usefulness of finger measurements in stature estimation [1,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”