1. This document outlines a synopsis for a postgraduate dissertation submitted to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru. 2. The synopsis was submitted by Dr. Vinay Manjunath Raj of the Department of Forensic Medicine at S. Nijalingappa Medical College in Bagalkot for an MD in Forensic Medicine. 3. The proposed study aims to estimate stature from foot length and footprints among students and staff aged 21-30 years at S. Nijalingappa Medical College. It will develop regression equations to correlate stature with foot dimensions.

1. SYNOPSIS FOR PG DISSERTATION
FOR MD/MS,
UNDER RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITY
OF HEALTH SCIENCES, BENGALURU.
NAME OF THE
DR. VINAY MANJUNATH RAJ
CANDIDATE
DEPT. OF FORENSIC MEDICINE,
AND
S. NIJALINGAPPA MEDICAL
ADDRESS
COLLEGE, NAVANAGAR,
(IN BLOCK LETTERS)
BAGALKOT, PIN - 587 102.
NAME OF THE
S. NIJALINGAPPA MEDICAL
INSTITUTION
COLLEGE AND HSK HOSPITAL,
BAGALKOT.
COURSE OF THE
STUDY AND
SUBJECT
M D (FORENSIC MEDICINE)

2. SYNOPSIS FOR PG DISSERTATION FOR MD/MS,
UNDER RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, BENGALURU.
Name And
DR. VINAY MANJUNATH RAJ
Address of the candidate
DEPT. OF FORENSIC MEDICINE,
(in block letters)
1.
S. NIJALINGAPPA MEDICAL COLLEGE,
NAVANAGAR, BAGALKOT, PIN - 587 102.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Name of the institution
Course of study and subject
Date of admission to course
Title of the Topic:
S. Nijalingappa Medical College & HSK Hospital,
Navavagar, Bagalkot.
M D (Forensic Medicine)
26-05-2010
“Estimation of Stature from foot length and Foot prints among students and staff of
6.
S N medical college of age group 21-30 years.”
Brief resume of the intended work:
6.1 : Need for the study:
The human foot has been studied for a variety of reasons, i.e., for forensic as well
as for non-forensic purposes by anatomist, forensic scientists, anthropologists,
physicians, podiatrists, and numerous other groups.1 Footprints are of immense value in
establishing personal identity and a potential link between the crime and the perpetrator.
Footprints can be collected from almost every kind of crime scene. Examination of
bare-foot impressions is important in developing countries where the majority of the
rural population likely to walk barefooted because of socioeconomic and climatic
reasons. The partial or complete foot-prints can be found on rain-covered surfaces,
newly waxed floors, and freshly cemented surfaces, moistened surfaces, in dust, mud,
sand, oil, paint, and blood.
In cases, of mass disasters and criminal mutilation, it is not unlikely to find
peripheral parts of the body such as hand and foot. More often in mass disasters, it may
be only the feet which are recovered intact than any other parts of the body. Stature has
been estimated from foot prints, foot measurements, and based on statistical equations
and formulae. Analysis of footprints helps in estimation of an individual's stature
because of the existence of a strong positive co-relation between one's stature and foot
size. Thus an effort is being made to correlate the foot length and foot prints with
stature.

3. 6.2 Review of literature:
Identification is the determination of individuality of a person living or dead based
on certain characteristics. Identification becomes necessary in the living, recently dead
persons, decomposed bodies, mutilated and skeletal remains and is required in civil as
well as criminal cases.2 Various criteria are used to establish the identity of human
remains. Amongst them, Stature is considered to be one of the primary characteristic
features. Estimating stature from foot dimensions have been done by so many studies in
different parts of the world with significant variations. This is due to multiple factors
like age, sex, race, heredity, nutrition, ethnicity and others. So it is difficult to produce
single standard formula for determination of stature from foot length and foot prints for
the entire papulation.3 However from different studies carried out in different provinces
it has been concluded that different normograms have become necessary for different
populations.4
From the study of ratio index of foot length to stature, it is concluded that, the foot
length relative to stature shows no great variation within the human races.5 On an
average a person’s foot prints length is equal to 15% of a person’s height.5
Study conducted by G M Raju and Vijaynath concluded that walking barefoot
length correlates with stature.5 It is accepted that feet can be an excellent clue regarding
personal identity. The length of the foot, which is a product of movement of lower limbs
and pelvic girdle when a person is walking, can be helpful in estimating the stature of an
individual.
6.3 Objectives of the study:
o To estimate the stature from percutaneous measurement of foot length
and maximum length of the complete foot print.
o To evolve regression equation for stature estimation from above
dimensions.
7.
Materials and Methods:
7.1 Source of data: Students and staff of S N Medical college between the age group of

4. 21-30 years
Inclusion criteria: Adults
o Age group: 21- 30 years.
o Apparently healthy.
o Only Adults who have documentary evidence of age in the
form of birth certificate issued by Municipal Corporation.
o Students and staff of S Nijalingappa Medical College.
o Should belong to North Karnataka by origin.
Exclusion criteria: Adults with
o Chronic illness.
o Endocrinal disorders.
o Individual with deformities of foot, lower limb(s) and
vertebral column.
o Flat foot.
o Below 21 years and above 30 years of age.
Sampling method:
o Stratified Random Sampling based on age.
o Sample size – 100.
7.2 Method of collection of data :
General physical examination will be conducted to know the health status and rule
out any deformities in the subjects.
Materials: Printer black ink, Glass plate, Manual Roller, Pencil, Measuring scale,
Vertical wooden scale, Osteometric board, Data collecting instrument, Calculator.
Method:
Recording of Foot Prints: The aim and objectives of the intended study will be
properly explained to the subjects and informed consent will be taken on the proforma
sheet. Participants will be asked to wash and dry their foot to remove the dirt. A plain
glass plate of about 24 X 24 inches is cleaned and uniformly smeared with a thin layer
of black printer ink by using a roller. The subjects will then be made to place their right
foot on the smeared glass plate. So that print of right foot will be transferred to the duly
prepared foot print proforma, keeping in mind the need to minimize the possible
technical source of dimensional artefact. The length of the foot print will be measured

5. from the mid rear heal point posteriorly to 1st or 2nd toe whichever is longer anteriorly.
The same will be repeated with the left foot. In this way, each and every individual's
bare foot prints are recorded.
Recording of foot length: The subject is made to place their right foot on
Osteometric board with the fixed plate of the board touching the most posteriorly
projecting point of the heel (pternion), the movable plate will be adjusted to measure the
most anteriorly projected point (acropodian) of the first or second toe, whichever is
longer, when the foot is stretched will be considerd, and it will be measured in
centimeters approximated to the nearest millimeter. Same thing will be repeated for the
left foot.
Recording of the height: The height of each subject will be recorded by asking
him/her to stand erect with bare foot on the base of the standard stadiometer in a
standing position, plate being attached to the vertical Wooden scale of two meters. Then
the subjects will be asked to stand without support, with arms by the side of the body,
head in steady position. The height will be measured on the vertex of the head with the
help of horizontal thin plate in centimeters to the nearest millimeters.
7.3 Does the study require any investigation or interventions to be conducted on patients
or other humans or animals? If so, please describe briefly.
No
7.4 Has ethical clearance been obtained from your institution in case of 7.3?
Yes.
8.
List of references:
1) Irene A F, Nabil K. Stature and Body Weight estimation from various footprint
Measurements Among Egyptian population, Journal of forensic science, july 2010, vol
55, no.4, 884-888.

6. 2) Modi’s Medical jurisprudence and toxicology, 23ed edition, Lexis Nexis,
Butterworths Wadhwa, Nagpur, 2005, Page 263- 264, 321- 322.
3)Tanuj K, Menezes R G, Moudgil R , Kaur R, Kotian M S, and Garg R K. Stature
estimation from foot length using universal regression formula in a North Indian
population, J of forensic science, January 2010, vol 55, no 1, page 163-166
4) Chavan K D, Datir S B, Farooqui J M and Numan H S: Correlation of foot
length with height among Maharashtrian population of India, Indian academy of
forensic medicine, vol 31 no 4, page 334 337
5) Raju G M, Vijayanth V, Anitha M R; Walking bare foot: print shows stature of a
male individual. Indian academy of Forensic medicine, Vol 31 no 4, page 338-343.
9.
Signature of the candidate
10. Remark of the guide
Recommended

7. 11. 11.1 Name and
designation of Guide
DR V. H. KELVEKAR
PROFESSOR,
DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE,
S. NIJALINGAPPA MEDICAL COLLEGE,
BAGALKOT.
11.2 Signature
11.3 Head of the
DR C. S. KAPSE
Department
PROFESSOR AND HEAD
DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE,
S. NIJALINGAPPA MEDICAL COLLEGE,
BAGALKOT.
11.4 Signature
12
12.1 Remarks of the Principal
12.2 Signature