Estimation of Stature from Hand Length in Haryanavi Population of North India

The present study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine at Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana State, India. A total number of 103 (52 males, 51 females) Haryanvi medical students were included in the study. The subjects were within the age limit of 21–32 years as stature attains its maximum limits at around 21 years of age and senility related changes of stature start appearing after 32 years. The subjects included in the study were healthy individuals free from any apparent skeletal deformity. Only right handed subjects were included in the study. Anthropometric measurements were taken by using standard anthropometric instruments in centimeters to the nearest millimeter. All the measurements were taken in a well lighted room. The data were collected, analyzed and subjected to statistical analyses using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to know the correlation of the stature with the hand length, SEE and linear regression formulae (simple and multiple) were derived for various combinations. A good correlation of height was observed with hand length 0.768 and the correlation coefficient between height and left hand length is + 0.725 in males and + 0.678 in females. The results of the present study would be useful for forensic anthropologists and forensic medicine specialists engaged in personal identification of unknown remains.