A STUDY ON ESTIMATION OF STATURE FROM FOOT LENGTH

Stature is considered as one of the important and significant parameters forestablishment of personal identity in forensic medical examination or anthropological studies.With the alarming increase in frequency of road and train accidents, floods, fire, deliberatemutilation, disfigurement and natural disasters, there is a need of studies that provide help toidentify the deceased from fragmentary and dismembered human remains. In such situations,measurements of feet provide a reasonably good estimation about the stature of a person.The paucity of data that allowing reconstruction of stature from the dimensions of feet whichhighlights the need of such study. Objectives: 1). To determine the relationship between footlength and stature by calculating correlation coefficient. 2- To establish a regression model forestimation of stature from foot length in both male and female. Study design: Cross sectionalsurvey study was carried out on the MBBS students of above 20 years of age of King EdwardMedical University, Lahore. Sampling technique: Systematic sampling technique applied.Amongst the total students (873) of 3rd year, 4th year and final year, every third student wasincluded. Place of study: Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology KEMU, Lahore.Duration of study: It was carried out in one year. Material and methods: The subject selectionwas based on following criteria: Inclusion criteria: The MBBS students of King Edward MedicalUniversity, Lahore irrespective of sex with age above 20 years were included in this study.Exclusion criteria: The subjects having diagnosed lower limb or foot deformities on clinicalassessment were excluded. Results: A significant and positive correlation was found betweenfoot length and stature in male and female subjects and regression equation was framed forboth sexes. The correlation coefficient was highest between stature and foot length in malesand females. Conclusion: Dimensions of feet can provide good reliability in estimation ofstature. The correlation coefficient was highest between stature and foot length of both in malesand females.