Estimation of stature from hand and handprint dimensions in the Brazilian population

Purpose Previous studies carried out in various populations in different countries have shown that hand measurements can be used to estimate stature, as well as the handprint measurements. In Brazil, there is not yet any specific standards to estimate the stature of its population; thus, the aim of the present study is to analyze the anthropometric relationship between hand’s length and its images with the stature of the Brazilian population and create regression formulas to estimate the stature from these dimensions. Methods The study examines measurements taken from 427 adult individuals (186 men; 241 women) from Brazil. Seven anthropometric measurements were made on each individual hand and each corresponding image. To find the relationship between measurements and stature, simple and linear regression analyses were performed. Results The results showed that the length of the palm of the hand is the variable with the highest correlation to stature in men and women ( r = 0.62–0.66). The accuracy of the stature estimate using hand measurements and hand impressions ranged between 4.65 and 5.47 cm in the female sample and between 5.26 and 6.39 cm in the male sample. Conclusion This research provided the first forensic standard for estimation of stature among the Brazilian population that may prove useful for crime scene investigations and disaster victim identifications in Brazil.