Anthropometric Assessment of Hand Dimensions for Stature Estimation using Regression Analysis: A Cross-sectional Study from a Central Indian Population

Introduction: Stature is an inherent physical characteristic that plays pivotal part in the identification of fragmented human body remains. Various body parts can be utilised for stature estimation. Anthropometric measurements of the forearm, hand, leg, and foot have been widely used to predict an individual’s stature. Aim: To assess the correlation between hand dimensions (hand length and hand breadth) and stature and to develop the regression equations for estimating stature from hand dimensions. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 205 medical students at Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, Central India. The study included 93 males and 112 females aged 18-24 years. Stature was measured using a stadiometer, while hand length and hand breadth were measured using a digital Vernier calliper. Statistical analysis was performed using MS Excel 2007, while Statistics Kingdom was used to analyse descriptive statistics. Linear regression equations were derived to estimate stature from hand dimensions. Result: The stature for males ranged from 155.5cm-188.5 cm, with a mean of 171.27±6.73 cm, whereas the stature of females ranged from 145-175 cm with mean of 158.99±6.538 cm. Hand length demonstrated a stronger positive correlation with stature than hand breadth in both sexes. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated a robust and statistically significant relationship between stature and hand dimensions among both males and females, indicating that hand measurements can be used as reliable predictors of stature.