Stature estimation from handprint measurements: an application to the medicolegal investigation

Abstract

Background The estimation of the stature of human beings is a major part of medicolegal investigation when only body parts are found. The study aimed to estimate the stature from different handprint measurements in a Bangladeshi population using statistical considerations. A sample of 200 young Bangladeshi adults (100 men and 100 women) with no physical disabilities participated in this study. Stature and seven anthropometric measurements were measured using standard anthropometric measurements. The bilateral asymmetry was tested using the independent t test. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R) between the stature and different handprint measurements was calculated. Consequently, the simple and multiple linear regression models were developed to estimate the stature from the handprint measurements. Results The bilateral asymmetry was statistically not significant (p > 0.05) in right and left handprints. Sex difference significantly (p < 0.05) influences the relationship between stature and handprint measurements. A positive and strong coefficient of correlation (R) value presents between stature and the handprint measurements. The right 2nd digit length in men (R = + 0.709, R2 = 0.502, SEE = ± 44.141 mm) and the right handprint length in women (R = + 0.552, R2 = 0.305, SEE = ± 49.074 mm) were the most reliable estimator of stature. However, when data were combined for both sexes, the right handprint length was identified as the most reliable estimator of stature with higher values of R (+ 0.777) and R2 (0.603), and a lower value of SEE (± 55.520). Multiple regression equation showed greater reliability than linear regression equations in stature estimation from handprint measurements in Bangladeshi population. Conclusions It was concluded that the estimation of stature from handprint measurements is possible and reliable. The findings of this study are very useful from the forensic and medicolegal point of view and can use to estimate the stature in Bangladeshi population.

Determination of Stature From Handprint Anthropometry Among Malaysian Indians for Person Identification

“…confession, testimony, video surveillance, physical evidence plays a pivotal role. For human identification, important parameters used are stature, gender, age and race, also known as the "Big Four" and stature is considered the most important in the "Big Four" for the development of biological profiles [6]. Researchers have shown that stature can be estimated from the hand [7], handprint [8], foot [9], 2D footprint [10], 3D footprint [11], dynamic footprint [12], fingerprint [13], and bones [14][15][16].…”

Development of Formulae to Determine Living Stature using Handprint Anthropometry of Tagalog People in the Philippines

“…The field of forensic science focuses on the examination and analysis of physical evidence found at crime scenes. This evidence may appear in either visible or latent forms, viz., impression evidence, which includes fingerprints, handprints, and footprints (Abderrahmane et al 2021, Asadujjaman et al 2021. However, other sorts of impression evidence may be helpful in a forensic investigation.…”

Stature estimation using head circumference

“…Many previous studies have been done on the estimation of height using various measurements of teeth and skull:[ 7 ] Footprint measurements in Bangladeshi adults,[ 11 ] forearm length in North Karnataka population,[ 6 ] maxilla and facial measurements in a Indian population,[ 12 ] intermastoid distance,[ 1 ] long bones of American white and negros,[ 13 ] and from hand and foot measurements in a rare tribe of Kerala state in India. [ 13 14 ] The extensive knowledge and experience of our research team have been translated into high quality publications. [ 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 ] The present study was taken with an aim to investigate the stature estimation using head circumference and to derive the linear regression formula and to prove head circumference is a reliable source for stature estimation.…”