Forms of fractures of the occipital condyles

In contrast to the large fracture system of the base of the skull, little attention has so far been paid to fractures of the occipital condyles. The mechanics of these fractures have mostly been described in the form of case reports. Here an attempt is made to classify fractures of the occipital condyle based on the literature and our own material. Fractures of the condyles in the sense of bursting or the injuries themselves are classified under the following forms of strain: 1. Axial compression (Jefferson type) condylar impression; 2. Axial traction (hangman's type) condylar retraction; 3. Rotation with axial strain condylar retraction; 4. Oblique compression (bursting fracture of the abutment) frontal condylar fracture; contralateral; 5. Oblique traction (horizontal thrust); a tearing at the base of the skull as in a contralateral condylar horizontal fracture; 6. Transverse thrust (longitudinal fracture of the base of the skull) partial condylar avulsion The functional connection between a longitudinal clivus and condylar fracture is illustrated by typical examples. Furthermore, the elliptical deformation model for a burst fracture at the base of the skull in the longitudinal axis is extended by the deeper transverse thrust stabilization of the condyles.     

600起重、特大交通事故死亡的法医学分析

本文通过６００起重、特大交通事故中死亡６７２人的检验解剖资料，分析了道路交通事故的一般情况、交通事故与致死的关系、不同类型车辆与致伤方式与损伤部位，以及损伤部位、死亡原因与死亡时间之间的关系。在此基础上，讨论了机动车与自行车相碰、车辆碰行人事故的原因、成伤机理。同时也分析讨论了交通事故的死亡原因和死亡时间的问题。     

The role of the forensic pathologist in the investigation of fatal traffic accidents — The Finnish system

In Finland about one-half of the fatal traffic accidents are investigated by special Boards of Inquiry. The cumulating data serves multidisciplinary sciences, juridical and insurance purposes and legislation. The participating physicians benefit from the systematic work of the Boards in many ways. As an example of the results a list of causes of accidents is shown.     

Fatigue in multiple-car fatal accidents

In a re-examination of 334 fatal multiple car accidents, without any reasonable explanation besides possible intoxication, 205 drivers were found responsible for the accident. Twenty-one of these accidents happened between midnight and 0600 h and 11 of the drivers were found to be intoxicated with a blood/alcohol content (BAC) of more than 0.080%. The remaining 184 accidents took place during the rest of the day and 55 drivers were intoxicated. By comparing this apparent over-representation of intoxicated drivers in night-time accidents with that of a control group of no less than 15,923 drivers, it was possible to convert this over-representation into an under-representation. This decline in accidents while under influence seems to indicate another human accident factor specific to night-time traffic. It is concluded that fatigue is an overlooked but most obvious cause of otherwise unexplainable accidents in the night-time traffic.     

Fatigue in single car fatal accidents

In a reexamination of 101 fatal single car accidents without any reasonable explanation besides possible intoxication, 50 drivers were found to have been intoxicated with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than 0.08 mg% at the time of the accident. Thirty-seven of these accidents happened between 2400 h and 0600 h in the morning and 21 of the drivers were found to be intoxicated. The remaining 64 accidents took place during the rest of the day and 21 drivers were found to be intoxicated. By comparing this apparent over-representation of intoxicated drivers in night-time accidents with that of a control group of no less than 15.923 drivers it was possible to convert this over-representation into a significant under-representation indicating another human accident factor specific to night-time traffic. It is concluded that fatigue is an often overlooked but most obvious cause to an otherwise unexplainable accident in the night-time traffic.     

Injuries in fatal cases of falls downstairs

Downstairs falls frequently occur within domestic environments and are mainly associated with elderly and intoxicated individuals, often feature multiple injuries on various parts of the body. In most cases it is not possible to determine the cause of the fall and/or death solely by means of external examination. In this retrospective study, which covers a period of 11 years, all cases of death which included a fall downstairs in their case history, were collected from the Forensic Institutes of the Universities of Bonn and Greifswald, Germany. Falls downstairs made up to 2% (166 cases) of all postmortem examinations carried out within this period. Interestingly, almost double of the amount of such falls applied to males as to females. The primary cause of death was cranio-cerebral trauma and the vast majority of skull injuries associated with falls downstairs were found above 'the hat brim line'. Injuries were also often found on several other parts of the body at once. Nineteen of the 116 examined individuals exhibited agonal injuries. In these cases, postmortem examination revealed pre-existing disease or intoxication to be the cause of death and thus, cause of the fall. The injury pattern only allows a tendency towards vital or agonal incident as a conclusion.     

Toxicological findings in fatal aircraft accidents in the United Kingdom

Toxicology studies can contribute much to investigations into the causes of accidents. This paper examines toxicological data from 485 fatal aircraft accidents over a 24-year period in terms of relevance to causing accidents and difficulties in procuring samples for analysis.     

Analysis of the incidence of pelvic trauma in fatal automobile accidents

Pelvic fractures are frequent complications of motor vehicle accidents, and motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of pelvic fracture. Although pelvic fractures are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, there has traditionally been no attempt to grade or classify pelvic fractures during postmortem examination. The authors performed a retrospective study of cases examined at the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner Office from 1994 to 1996, reviewing investigative reports and autopsy findings. Radiographs were examined for the presence and Tile type of pelvic fracture. Pelvic fractures were identified in 88 of 392 cases (23%). In most (89%), the pelvic fracture was readily classified according to Tile type on the basis of radiographs and the inferred mechanism of injury. This study indicates that current estimates of the mortality of pelvic fractures are low because of the exclusion of individuals who do not survive to hospitalization. Furthermore, pelvic fractures in rapidly fatal motor vehicle accidents tend to be more severe than fractures in individuals who have a significant interval of survival. The presence and classification of pelvic fractures may be readily determined by radiographs in most cases. The Tile classification scheme is easy to apply and has important implications in the comparison of study groups.     

道路交通事故颅脑损伤的法医学鉴定

目的　研究道路交通事故中颅脑损伤的类型、特点、主要并发症及其受伤人员的伤残评定。方法　 862例道路交通事故颅脑损伤的案例资料 ,按伤者受伤的不同部位、有无并发症、并发症的类型及伤残程度进行统计分析。结果　复合性颅脑损伤 2 76例 ,脑挫伤 192例 ,颅骨骨折 79例 ,颅内出血 91例 ,头皮外伤 2 2 4例 ;主要并发症为脑积水 ( 19例 ,2 2 0 % )、癫痫 ( 16例 ,1 86% )、偏瘫 ( 14例 ,1 62 % )、植物人状态 ( 12例 ,1 3 9% )。结论　道路交通事故中颅脑损伤 ,以头部复合性损伤最多见 ,严重的脑挫伤为最常见的损伤类型 ,并发症的诊断应掌握诊断标准 ,并注意与相关疾病鉴别。     

上海市道路交通事故受伤人员伤残分析

目的分析道路交通事故伤残的特征,为制定和修改伤残鉴定标准和相关法规提供参考。方法对上海市因道路交通事故受伤,2005年经法医评定构成伤残的案例资料进行回顾性分析。结果伤残部位以肢体最多（53.3%）,其次为头部（23.3%）,脊柱（9.7%）,胸部（5.8%）和腹部（4.4%）。2005年上海市交通事故年累积致残率为414.8/10万,男性（505.7/10万）高于女性（318.7/10万）,以35～59岁的致残率最高（538.2/10万）,60岁以上致残率呈现下降趋势（30.2/10万）。伤残者中交通方式以非机动车最多,其次为行人。结论2005年上海市道路交通伤致残率青壮年（35～59岁）最高,对社会经济和劳动力损失大。     

交通事故中摩托车司乘人员致伤方式分析

通过对3例摩托车交通事故中司乘人员的损伤特征及车辆痕迹的检验结果比对,分析事故过程中摩托车司乘人员的运动过程及致伤方式,发现因其位置、姿势和应激状态不同,摩托车驾驶位乘员与后座乘员在碰撞、运动过程中损伤形成不同,其人体成伤机制、部位及程度与车辆相关部位的损害痕迹可以相互佐证,对于推断摩托车司乘人员的行为方式(谁是摩托车驾驶员)具有重要价值。进一步总结此类事故鉴定的共同特点,可为事故责任认定提供参考。     

两轮摩托车道路交通事故驾驶员损伤特点的观察

目的 观察两轮摩托车驾驶员发生道路交通事故时的损伤形成规律,探讨此类事故确定驾驶人员的法医学依据。方法 对2000年至2002年北京地区408例2人同乘一辆两轮摩托车发生事故造成摩托车人员伤亡的损伤情况进行回顾性研究。结果 两轮摩托车发生道路交通事故时,在驾驶员腹部、会阴部、大腿内侧、胸部、面颈部、小腿胫前会形成能反应摩托车特定致伤部件的特征性损伤,而乘员在这些部位的损伤多为摔跌形成,难以反应摩托车特定部件的特征。结论 在两轮摩托车道路交通事故中,伤者身上反应的摩托车特定部件的特征性损伤,可作为判断两轮摩托车道路交通事故驾驶员的依据。     

道路交通事故法医检验技术的研究进展

近年来,经济快速发展和机动车数量急剧增多,道路交通事故频发和伤亡人数不断上升已经成为备受关注的全球性问题。法医检验作为交通事故处理中重要的证据,其鉴定意见直接影响着当事方的权益和事故处理。不容置疑,法医检验技术的运用对鉴定意见有十分重要的影响作用。本文对国内外法医检验技术的最新研究进展和应用进行综述,供同行实践工作中参考。     

移动电话使用与道路交通事故的关系

随着移动通讯事业的迅速发展,开车使用移动电话的人越来越多,与移动电话相关的交通事故也随之增加。本文总结了移动电话对驾驶者的影响和与移动电话相关的交通事故发生的危险因素,并阐述了目前降低与移动电话相关的交通事故发生采取的措施并提出预防相关交通事故发生的对策。     

移动电话使用与道路交通事故的关系

随着移动通讯事业的迅速发展，开车使用移动电话的人越来越多，与移动电话相关的交通事故也随之增加。本文总结了移动电话对驾驶者的影响和与移动电话相关的交通事故发生的危险因素，并阐述了目前降低与移动电话相关的交通事故发生采取的措施并提出预防相关交通事故发生的对策。