Identification of an individual plays a critical role in scenarios involving mass disasters, missing persons, and unidentified bodies. Various factors such as race, sex, stature, and age are key parameters considered during the identification process. Among these factors, estimating stature stands out as a crucial element in the overall identification process. Here, we conducted a study in a tertiary care center in South India that was dedicated to formulating a standardized method for determining stature in patients. The study focused on utilizing the length of the first metatarsal from radiographic images as a key indicator for accurately estimating stature. Utilizing the advanced digital X-ray equipment available at the hospital, we meticulously measured the length of the first metatarsal in either foot of a sample consisting of 161 individuals. Through a detailed analysis of the data collected, the researchers discovered a more pronounced relationship between stature and the length of the first metatarsal in females compared to males. The study’s outcomes led to the formulation of regression equations specifically for this demographic group. For males, the regression equation was computed as H = 134.8 + 4.8 M1, while for females, it was determined as H = 133.4 + 3.86 M1. These significant findings highlight the practicality of utilizing the regression equations derived from this study to estimate stature within the South Indian population. The regression equation established through this research offers a dependable and precise approach for determining stature in this specific demographic group by solely considering the length of the first metatarsal bone.
M et al. (2026) studied this question.