Prediction of stature from the hand length of an individual in south indian population

Background: Identification of human remnants is a critical problem and is of immense significance to the forensic expert. Among the numerous parameters of identification, individual's height is an essential characteristic, the assessment of which is considered to be vital in those cases where only fragmented or mutilated remnants of an unidentified individual are recovered. So, the aim of the present study is to develop some regression formulae to indicate association between height and hand length in healthy adult individuals in both sexes. Materials and Method: The study is done on of 60 postmortem cases which came for autopsy. Their height and both hands length is measured using a measuring tape. The data obtained is subjected to statistical calculations using Spss computer programmer to derive linear regression equations. Results: There was significant correlation between height and right and left hand in males as in both p value was 0.0000. Even there was significant correlation between height and right and left hand in females as in both p value was 0.0000. Conclusion: This study will be significant to Forensic experts, human biologists and physical anthropologists for determination of stature from the fragmentary remnants of upper limb.