(Folia Morphol 2017; 76, 4: 682-688)

No abstract

The study of human foot and its impressions has countless implications in medico-legal practice. The foot and its impressions are unique to an individual and its dimensions are known to be reliable in the prediction of biological profile. A significant number of regression equations for the prediction of biological profile are derived from foot dimensions in weight bearing living subjects. With respect to the weight applied to the foot, arches of the foot are able to deform and reverse to normal alignment, changing the shape and size of the foot. Deformities of those arches are capable of affecting the foot dimensions as well. However, from a forensic perspective, there is a paucity of literature discussing the effect of body weight and arch height on foot dimensions or their effect on the accuracy of biological profile prediction. This article, therefore, briefly discusses the forensic implication of the foot and the effect of body weight and arch height on the accuracy of the regression equations derived from weight bearing subject as well as subjects with arch deformities.

Stature estimation is a vital tool in forensic investigation. It answers the pertinent question of how tall an individual is in an attempt to establish the biological profile of unknown deceased or suspect. The widely used methods of stature estimation in forensic science are the anatomical and the mathematical methods [1]. While the anatomical method is largely abandoned in the light of the obvious difficulty in recovering the complete skeleton in its intact form from a crime or disaster scene, as well as the tedious and time consuming nature of the technique [2], the mathematical method has undergone several refinements and modifications since its inception in order to provide easy-to-use, reliable and consistent regression equations for the estimation of stature. Initially, the mathematical method for stature estimation is mostly achieved using regression equations particularly derived from measurements of long bones of the upper and lower limbs [3,4]. These equations have a reasonable degree of accuracy, although the lower limb bones are more reliable than the bones of the upper limb [5,6]. Nevertheless, such bones are not usually recovered in intact form due to their fragility [6]. Consequently, alternative approaches have been made to derive regression equations from fragmented skeletal materials [7,8]. However, despite such attempts, the fragmented skeletal materials have been found to be less reliable compared to the long bones [9]. The fragmentary materials are also less reliable than the small bones of the body particularly those of the foot [10][11][12]. Moreover, due to the protection offered by footwear and the particular feature of their own tissue, the integrity of the pedal elements is more likely to be recovered undamaged in mass disasters [6]. Thus, the foot constitutes a reliable body part up for grabs in forensic investigations for stature estimation.A number of regression equations, both population-specific and sex-specific, have been derived for stature estimation from foot dimensions in various studies [13][14][15][16]. Among the various foot dimensions, foot length was found to be the best parameter for estimation of stature [13,16]. However, a recent study by AlQahtani has shown that the length of proximal phalanx of the second toe does not show significant correlation with the stature despite the development of predictive regression equation [17]. Accordingly, it is plausible to assume that due to the short nature of the phalanges of the foot, their length may not be accurately proportional to person's stature. Thus, the truncated foot length (foot length without the phalanges) may be more reliable in stature estimation than the total foot length. Furthermore, in a situation where a recovered foot with toes deformities (e.g. claw or hammer toes) is brought for forensic examination to establish the identity of the diseased, truncated foot may offer a more reliable alternative for estimation of stature as the measurement of total foot length may be affected by the deformities.As a follow-...

Studies have shown that knee alignment parameters differ among races. However, to our knowledge, radiographic frontal plane knee alignment has not been studied in normal northern Nigerian adults. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the frontal plane knee alignment in normal northern Nigerian adults. This study recruited a total of 59 consented subjects (44 males, 15 females). The entire subjects are without any history of lower extremity deformity. Anteroposterior radiographs of both knees with the patella positioned straight ahead were obtained from each participant while standing in a relaxed bipedal stance and placing equal weight on each limb. Alignment was assessed by measuring the tibiofemoral angle (TFA), distal femoral angle (DFA) and proximal tibial angle (PTA). The angles were measured with the aid of a universal plastic goniometre and a plastic ruler. Descriptive statistics of the alignment parameters, independent and paired t-test were computed. In the male population, the mean (standard deviation) obtained were 179.06 (3.87)o for the TFA, 85.94 (3.03 o for the DFA and 89.27 (3.26)o for the PTA. In the female population, the values were 179.53 (3.38)o for the TFA, 86.40 (2.97)o for the DFA and 89.27 (2.15)o for the PTA. No significant mean difference was observed between genders in all the parameters. The TFA does not show any significant difference between the right and left angle regardless of gender. However, significant mean differences were observed in the DFA and PTA of males and combined population. No significant difference was observed in the DFA and PTA of females. Accordingly, northern Nigerian adults may have varus knee alignment compared to other races. Thus, this pre-existing varus alignment should be taken into consideration during clinical examination, preoperative planning and postoperative evaluations of knee deformities in this population.

No abstract