Study for estimation of stature from foot length in medico-legal autopsies (Study of 500 cases)

Background: Assessing the height of an individual, from measurements of different parts, has always been of immense interest to forensic medicine experts. The study of foot measurement in personal identification has obvious significance in forensic sciences. Having this idea in mind we did our project. Aims: Aim of the present study was to estimate stature from foot length of both side and compare the correlation coefficient in both sexes. Materials and methods: This study was carried out on 500 medico-legal autopsies which were brought to Forensic Medicine Department, M. P. Shah Govt. Medical College, Jamnagar during the period of August 2012 to June 2013. We took the height by standard measuring tap and foot length by sliding vernier calliper. Result: The stature of males varied in range of 150 to 188 cm with mean of 167 + 4.58 cm and in females in the range of 139 to 171 cm with mean of 154 + 4.7 cm. Right foot length in males varied in range of 20.12 to 28.9 cm and in females 19.1 to 24.4 cm. Left foot length in males varied in range of 20.4 to 29.1 cm and in females 19 to 24.36 cm. Correlation co-efficient for both foot in both males and females are > 0.7. Conclusion: Males were taller and have longer feet than females. There is very large correlation between height and foot length in both males and females. Correlation co-efficient for male for both foot are higher than females so, stature prediction from foot length is more accurate in males than females