1Junior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine, SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
2Additional Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Science, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
3Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
4Senior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine, JIPMER, Puducherry, India
Online published on 19 January, 2015.
Stature is an important parameter in establishing the identity of a person. It has always been a challenge to assess the stature from incomplete human remains.
To evolve a regression equation to determine the height of an individual by using arm span length in Gujarati population.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a teaching hospital of Vadodara, Gujarat comprising 100 participants (50 males and 50 females) in the age group of 20–40 years. Height was measured using Stadiometer while arm span was measured with a flexible steel tape from the tip of the middle finger of one hand to the tip of the middle finger of the other hand, the individual standing with their back to the wall and both arms abducted.
A regression equation was obtained. The regression equation serves to estimate stature using arm span in both males and females with optimum accuracy. Analysis reveals a highly significant correlation (p< 0.05) between height and arm-span.
Arm span can be considered as a fairly reliable body parameter for the estimation of stature when height cannot be measure directly. It will extend a great help to forensic experts, anthropologists, anatomists in solving inter-related medico-legal issues especially in mass disasters.
Anthropometry, Stature, Arm Span
