Prediction of Stature Using Fingers' Lengths

Introduction

The stature or height of an individual is an inherent characteristic that constitutes one of the parameters of personal identification. In addition it is one of the tools used in forensic anthropology. Estimation of stature is of paramount importance in verifying the identity of an individual from the bodily remains, often after any kind of mass disaster, explosion or intentional cuts and dismantling. Scientists, anatomists and anthropologists are focusing their researches on the Dimensional relationship between body segments and the whole body [1], and between stature and measurements of different body parts which are often represented using linear regression equation derived from them. The estimation of stature using different parts of the body is crucial for formulating a biological profile during the process of personal identification, especially when mutilated and amputated limbs or body parts are found [2, 3]. Stature has been shown to steadily increase from infancy to adulthood and remains stable throughout middle age but decrease with old age [4]. Due to the variability in height, various approaches to the study of human growth and development have evolved [5, 6, 7].

Stature can be estimated using two approaches: the anatomical method and the mathematical method. The anatomical method involves measuring the height of each skeletal element contributing to an individual’s stature [8]. However, this method is time-consuming and requires a complete skeleton. The mathematical method, commonly employed, utilizes regression equations based on the measurement of one or two major long bones to estimate living height [9]. While mathematical methods are quicker and applicable to incomplete skeletons, they rely on population averages and may not account for individual variations.

Long bones are commonly used for this purpose of estimating stature, however, the human hand, which is the most used and versatile part of the body presents an alternative approach. The hand length was found to be the most reliable alternative that can be used as a basis for estimating age-related loss in height [10, 11]. The hand length could also be used to predict body weight status and body surface area independent of the sex of the individual [10, 11]. Though, Stature estimation using long bones is more preferable, reliable and accurate, as its’ correlate better than other classes of bones [12, 13]. However, in conditions that the body is being dismembered, it is important to identify a deceased person from remaining body parts, such as head, hands, arms, and feet. Again research had it that lower limb measurements are more strongly associated with stature than upper limb measurements [14] however, there is still a need to assess the correlation of the upper limb measurements with stature because the lower limbs may not always be available. Vaijnathrao, et al. [13] conducted a study on estimation of stature from index and ring finger length. The purpose of the study was to estimate stature using index and ring finger lengths and to predict the accuracy of regression models derived from such parameters. The findings of the study indicate that index finger and ring finger lengths can be used to predict living stature of an individual. Mojaverrostami, et al. [15] investigated the possibility of predicting stature based on Fingers Length in Iranian. The conclusion was that 3rd Finger Length provides a better prediction of stature among the lengths of fingers in both genders.

This study aimed at predicting the stature of Madonna University students using their finger’s lengths. The knowledge gained from this research will contribute to the identification of individuals in situations such as natural disasters, accidents, and other incidents involving dismembered or mutilated bodies.

Results

The results revealed statistically significant gender differences in finger lengths as shown in tables 4 and 5, with different correlations observed between finger lengths and height in males and females of which the middle fingers length appears highest. The correlations done between middle fingers lengths and height suggested that the third finger length estimate stature better than other fingers as shown in tables 6 and 7, for both males and females. In predicting stature from the fingers length, a regression analysis was

Discussion

From the study, it can be observed that the average height of the males was higher than the average height of females. The mean height for females in centimeter was 169.34 while that for males was 180.92. There was a statistically significant difference in the height of the males when compared to the females in the population. In line with this study, Ilsun and Wonjoon [16] showed a significantly higher stature for males than females. However, a descriptive statistics across the fingers length was seen to be significant and the middle fingers right hand and left hand for males, and right hand and left hand for females were observed to have the highest values when compared to other fingers. Similarly, Ilsum and Wonjoon [16], observed significant differences in the middle fingers of males and females. However, Kachan, et al. [17] observed that the length of ring finger in males is significantly longer than the females. Krishan, et al. [18] also observed similar finding that the length of the index and ring fingers of adolescent males in North Indian are significantly longer than the females. The differences observed could be as a result of the gender differences in growth rate during adolescent where the male grow faster than the female. In Nigeria Oladipo, et al. [19] observed a significant difference in the length of right ring finger and right index finger between male and female. Many studies have established positive correlations between stature and hand dimensions in different populations [20, 21] and regression equations. From this study, it can be observed that there was a more favorable correlation between the left middle finger and height in males (left hand R=0.557; right hand R=0.525) and a better correlation between the right middle finger and the height in females (right hand R=0.681; left hand R=0.636). This finding is in line with the findings of Mojaverrostami [16] in whose study the regression equations derived for the estimation of stature from measured variables are the third Fingers Lengths (R2=0.338) and was the highest determining factor in the regression equation. Accordingly, the 3rd and 4th Fingers Lengths (R2=0.253 and R2=0.157, respectively) demonstrated the highest accuracy among the female group. Also, this study was in agreement to Shivakumar, et al. [22] who also found good correlation and statistically highly significant correlation coefficient between middle finger length and stature among the South Indian population of Karnataka region however, the regression equations obtained in the present study are different from their study. Again, Gloria, et al. [12] also found a positive correlation between the middle finger and stature among the students of Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, which is located in the western region of India. From all indication the 3rd Finger length seem to be an appropriate parameter for estimating stature, this could be as a result of its length amongst other fingers, it is the longest finger. This agrees with the findings that said that long bones predict stature better than other bones [12, 13].

From this study, the regression constant as observed for males shows that at 0cm in the middle finger, the height of males in average will be 125.07cm while the Regression coefficient in females was 98.403cm meaning at 0cm of the right middle finger in females, the height of the female will be approximately 98.403 which is in agreement with the work of Gayathri and Ranganath [7]. The regression formulae for females and males have been derived separately. Oladipo, et al. [19] worked on the ring and index fingers in relation to the stature. They found out a relationship between right index finger and stature and between right ring finger and stature The regression equations derived in this study can be effectively used to predict stature, therefore, it can be concluded that the equation may be helpful to obtain approximate stature in situations where mutilated remains are to be examined and all digits are not available. This equation could be useful in forensic anthropology and any anthropological research.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated a significant correlation between height and finger’s length, suggesting that fingers lengths measurements can be used to determine stature particularly the middle fingers length. Therefore, from this study, it is deduced that, amongst all the fingers, the middle fingers (right and left) have the possibility of predicting stature better than every other finger.

Conflict of Interest

Authors declared no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgements

The Authors appreciate all the people involved in this research.