Determination of Fracture Patterns in Glass and Glassy Polymers,

The study of fractures of glass, glassy‐type materials, and plastic has long been of interest to the forensic community. The focus of this interest has been the use of glass and polymer fractures to associate items of evidence under the assumption that each fracture is different. Generally, it is well‐accepted that deviations exist; however, the emphasis has been on classifying and predicting fracture rather than determining that each fracture is different. This study documented the controlled fracture patterns of 60 glass panes, 60 glass bottles, and 60 plastic tail light lens covers using both dynamic impact and static pressure methods under closely controlled conditions. Each pattern was intercompared, and based on the limited specimens tested in this study, the results illustrate that the fracture patterns are different. Further repetitive studies, under controlled conditions, will be needed to provide more statistical significance to the theory that each fracture forms a nonreproducible fracture pattern.     

A meta-analytic review of the frequency and patterning of laryngohyoid and cervical fractures in cases of suicide by hanging

The frequency and distribution of fractures are commonly utilized to assist in interpreting the manner of death. In cases of alleged suicide by hanging, however, the evidence base for the frequency and patterning of laryngohyoid and cervical vertebrae fractures resulting from such blunt force traumatic events is limited and so fractures cannot be reliably used to assist in interpreting the manner. Using meta-analytic techniques, this study aimed to estimate frequency and distribution of fractures in the context of relevant intrinsic and extrinsic variables. A systematic review of the literature identified 20 studies with relevant data (8523 cases of suicide by hanging). Meta-analyses identified the frequency and distribution of fractures present and how fracture frequency was affected by the subgroups of age, sex, completeness of suspension, ligature knot position and study design. Results indicated that fracture frequency was variable, there was no unique patterning, and high levels of heterogeneity were present in all variable sub-groups. Age was the only subgroup to show differences. Findings suggest that neck fracture frequency is inconsistent and cannot be predicted by the chosen variables. Subsequently, neck fractures in isolation should not be given weight in medico-legal interpretations of a hanging death as suicidal.     

骨盆骨折伤残重新鉴定65例分析

目的 研究有争议的交通事故受伤人员骨盆骨折伤残等级评定案例,分析其在初次鉴定中暴露出来的问题,探讨如何正确理解与把握骨盆骨折的鉴定条款,建立科学的判定标准。方法 收集上海市司法鉴定中心2006—2013年道路交通事故致骨盆骨折伤残等级重新鉴定案例65例,对初次鉴定和重新鉴定的资料进行分析比较。结果 鉴定时机不当,鉴定材料收集不全面,鉴定人对骨盆骨折条款的理解有误及其他一系列问题是重新鉴定意见改变伤残等级的主要原因。结论 针对上述问题,应该从提高鉴定人专业技能,建立统一判定标准等方面来提高此类案件的鉴定质量。     

胸部损伤死因鉴定审查在诉讼中的应用

人身伤害案件被害人的死因鉴定,轻则涉及被告人的量刑,重则事关案件的定性。而司法实践中,经常遇到一些刑事被害人的死因鉴定意见是建立在推断的基础之上,且其推断不具有排他性,经不起推敲,往往直接影响到案件的定性与处理。针对这一问题,结合司法案例进行分析,以期提升死因鉴定的证明力和法医学鉴定意见的公信力。     

CT测量在眶内壁骨折损伤程度鉴定中的应用

目的 利用CT测量眶内壁骨折案件中伤者眶容积扩大率及眶内壁骨质缺损面积,探讨两种CT测量值用于评估眶内壁骨折范围的可行性.方法 选取20例无眼眶骨折案件作为对照组,使用CT测量双侧眶容积,并比较两例是否存在差异.选取本院2018-2020年间受理的眶内壁骨折案件39例作为实验组,并根据鉴定意见分为轻伤组与轻微伤组.分别...     

Characteristics and Prediction of Cranial Crush Injuries in Children*†

Abstract: This study documents four clinical cases of fatal crush injuries to children between 1.5 and 6 years of age with correlations between modeled stress and clinically observed fracture patterns. The clinical case fractures were concentrated in the basicranium, bridged the impact sites, and traversed the middle cranial fossa in the area of the spheno‐occipital synchondrosis. The crushing forces from these cases were recreated on a simplified finite element model of a cranium by applying bilateral pressures to corresponding regions. Numerous trials were run to develop a representative pattern of principal stress directions. In all cases, the highest tensile stresses were located on the basicranium and corresponded to the observed fracture path(s). These results suggest that prefailure stress field diagrams may predict fracture propagation paths, although these will not be exact. Also, these analyses indicate that quasi‐static bilateral loading of the cranium may lead to predictable fracture of the basicranium.     

骨折延迟愈合或骨不连接伤残等级评定66例分析

目的探讨骨折延迟愈合、骨折不连接伤残等级评定条款的适用。方法从患者的性别、年龄、骨折部位/种类、合并疾病情况、治疗方式、骨折愈合时间、伤残等级等资料分析66例骨折延迟愈合、骨折不连接的评残案件。结果进行伤残等级鉴定60例,其中八级2例,九级11例,十级28例,未构成伤残19例,还有6例未申请伤残鉴定。结论现行国家鉴定标准尚无骨折延迟愈合、骨折不连接的明确条款,故有一定的不适应性,在实践中可比照最相类似条款进行评残。     

A Fatal Mediastinitis Due to a Neck Trauma from an Undeclared Assault

History of neck trauma should be promptly investigated in patients with severe infections of the chest as mediastinitis. We present a forensic case of a death due to a mediastinitis in a patient with an undetected fracture of the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage that was exclusively revealed at autopsy examination. Histological analyses of the neck tissues showed signs of pharyngeal mucosal microperforation caused by the fracture and surrounded by an inflammatory reaction. The fracture was caused by a not declared manual strangulation attempt, happened several days before medical evaluations. We share our experience to emphasize the importance of revealing the etiologies of fatal infections of the mediastinum both for clinical and forensic purposes.