Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

New insights in the analysis of blunt force trauma in human bones. Preliminary results

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Determining the time of injury is an important but still a challenging task in forensic anthropology. In literature, many descriptions can be found to make a distinction between perimortem and postmortem fractures. Characteristics that are more related to fractures in fresh conditions, however, are not extensively investigated. This study compared 28 perimortem fractures from autopsies and 21 both fresh and dry experimentally reproduced human bone fractures. Preliminary results showed the following five distinct traits that might be related to perimortem conditions: layered breakage, bone scales, crushed margins, wave lines and flakes with matching flake defect. These distinct traits might not only be good estimators of perimortem trauma but also may be an indicator of trauma in intra vitam conditions, especially related with muscular reaction to injury. Furthermore, layered breakage seems to be a good trait to infer the biomechanics of trauma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sauer NJ, Simson LR (1984) Clarifying the role of forensic anthropologists in death investigations. J Forensic Sci 29:1081–1086

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Galtés I (2013) Estudio médico forense del cadáver en mal estado. In: Libro X Curso Patología Forense. Sociedad Española de Patología Forense, Logroño, pp. 113–141

    Google Scholar 

  3. Tersigni-Tarrant MA, Shirley NR (2013) Forensic anthropology today. In: Tersigni-Tarrant MA, Shirley NR (eds) Forensic Anthropology: An Introduction. CRC Press, Florida

  4. Reichs KJ (1998) Forensic osteology: advances in the identification of human remains, 2nd Edition. Charles C Thomas, Springfield

  5. Sauer NJ (1998) The timing of injuries and manner of death: distinguishing among antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem trauma. In: Reichs KJ (ed) Forensic osteology: advances in the identification of human remains. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, pp. 321–332

    Google Scholar 

  6. Galloway A, Zephro L, Wedel VL (2014) Diagnostic criteria for the determination of timing and fracture mechanism. In: Wedel VL, Galloway A (eds) Broken bones. Charles C Thomas, Springfield, pp. 47–58

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dirkmaat DC (2012) A companion to forensic anthropology. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

  8. Christensen AM, Passalacqua N V, Bartelink EJ (2014) Forensic anthropology: current methods and practice. Academic Press, Oxford

  9. Symes SA, L’Abbé EN, Stull KE et al (2014) Chapter 13: taphonomy and the timing of bone fractures in trauma analysis. In: Pokines JT, Symes SA (eds) Manual of forensic taphonomy. CRC Press, Florida, pp. 341–365

    Google Scholar 

  10. Nawrocki S (2009) Forensic taphonomy. In: Blau S, Ubelaker DH (eds) Handbook of forensic anthropology and archaeology. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, pp. 284–295

    Google Scholar 

  11. Cappella A, Amadasi A, Castoldi E et al (2014) The difficult task of assessing perimortem and postmortem fractures on the skeleton: a blind text on 210 fractures of known origin. J Forensic Sci 59:1598–1601

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Symes SA, L’Abbé EN, Chapman EN et al (2012) Chapter 17: interpreting traumatic injury to bone in medicolegal investigations. In: Dirkmaat DC (ed) A companion to forensic anthropology. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 340–388

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  13. Wedel VL, Galloway A (2014) Broken bones. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield

  14. Symes SA, Rainwater MS, Chapman EN et al (2008) Patterned thermal destruction of human remains in a forensic setting. In: Schmidt CW, Symes SA (eds) Analysis of burned remains. Academic Press, Oxford, pp. 15–54

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  15. Ubelaker DH, Adams BJ (1995) Differentiation of perimortem and postmortem trauma using taphonomic indicators. J Forensic Sci 40:509–512

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Wieberg DAM, Wescott DJ (2008) Estimating the timing of long bone fractures: correlation between the postmortem interval, bone moisture content, and blunt force trauma fracture characteristics. J Forensic Sci 53:1028–1034

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ortner D (2008) Differential diagnosis of skeletal injuries. In: Kimmerle EH, Baraybar JP (eds) Skeletal Trauma. CRC Press, Florida, pp. 21–93

    Google Scholar 

  18. Galloway A, Zephro L (2005) Chapter 8: skeletal trauma analysis of the lower extremity. In: Rich J, Dean DE, Powers RH (eds) Forensic medicine of the lower extremity: human identification and trauma analysis of the thigh, leg, and foot. Humana Press, New Jersey, pp. 253–277

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Gozna ER (1982) Biomechanics of long bone injuries. In: Gozna ER, Harrington IJ (eds) Biomechanics of musculoskeletal injuries. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, pp. 1–24

    Google Scholar 

  20. Tencer AF (2006) Biomechanics of fixation and fractures. In: Rockwood CA, Green DP, Bucholz RW, Heckman JD (eds) Rockwood Green’s fractures in adults, 6th edn. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, pp. 3–42

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ebacher V, Tang C, McKay H et al (2007) Strain redistribution and cracking behavior of human bone during bending. Bone 40:1265–1275

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Damkilde L (2000) Stress and stiffness analysis of beam-sections. Technical University of Denmark, http://homes.civil.aau.dk/lda/Notes/CROSS.pdf. Accessed 10 June 2015

  23. Rouvière H, Delmas A (1988) Anatomia humana. Masson, Barcelona

  24. Kieser J (2013) Biomechanics of bone and bony trauma. In: Kieser J, Taylor M, Carr D (eds) Forensic biomechanics. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 35–70

    Google Scholar 

  25. Etxeberria F (2003) Patología Traumática. In: Isidro Llorens A, Malgosa Morera A (eds) Paleopathologia: la enfermedad no escrita. Masson, Barcelona

  26. Sen S, Ando T, Kobayashi E et al (2014) Development of femoral bone fracture model simulating muscular contraction force by pneumatic rubber actuator. Eng Med Biol Soc:6872–6875

  27. Pick TP (1885) Fractures and dislocations. Lea Brothers & Company, Philadelphia

  28. Porta DJ (2005) Chapter 9: biomechanics of impact injury. In: Rich J, Dean DE, Powers RH (eds) Forensic medicine of the lower extremity: human identification and trauma analysis of the thigh, leg, and foot. Humana Press, New Jersey, pp. 279–310

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  29. Kieser J, Taylor M, Carr D (2013) Forensic biomechanics. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

  30. Botella MC, Aleman I, Jiménez SA (1999) Los huesos humanos, manipulación y alteraciones. Bellaterra, Barcelona

  31. Moraitis K, Spiliopuolou C (2006) Identification and differential diagnosis of perimortem blunt force trauma in tubular long bones. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2:221–229

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Moraitis K, Eliopoulos C, Spiliopoulou C (2008) Fracture characteristics of perimortem trauma in skeletal material. Internet J Biol Anthropol 3:1–13

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Special thanks go to the technicians and personnel staff of the Institut de Medicina Legal i Ciències Forenses de Catalunya (IMLCFC). The authors are grateful to Hannah McGlynn for the English language revision of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forensic Anthropology Unit, Catalonian Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science (IMLCFC), Ciutat de la Justícia, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 111 Edifici G, 08075, Barcelona, Spain

    Sarah Scheirs, Marisa Ortega-Sánchez, Jordi Medallo-Muñiz & Ignasi Galtés

  2. Department of Animal Biology, Vegetal Biology and Ecology, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    Sarah Scheirs, Assumpció Malgosa & Ignasi Galtés

  3. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) - EEBE, Eduard Maristany 10-14, 08019, Barcelona, Spain

    David Sanchez-Molina, Joan Velázquez-Ameijide & Carlos Arregui-Dalmases

  4. Unitat d’Anatomia i d’Embriologia, Departament de Ciències Morfològiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    Marisa Ortega-Sánchez

  5. Legal Medicine Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    Ignasi Galtés

Authors
  1. Sarah Scheirs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Assumpció Malgosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David Sanchez-Molina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marisa Ortega-Sánchez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Joan Velázquez-Ameijide
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Carlos Arregui-Dalmases
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jordi Medallo-Muñiz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ignasi Galtés
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ignasi Galtés.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Scheirs, S., Malgosa, A., Sanchez-Molina, D. et al. New insights in the analysis of blunt force trauma in human bones. Preliminary results. Int J Legal Med 131, 867–875 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1514-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1514-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation