Discrimination of Falls and Blows in Blunt Head Trauma: Assessment of Predictability Through Combined Criteria* |
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Authors: | Célia Kremer MSc Anny Sauvageau MSc MD |
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Institution: | Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale, édifice Wilfrid‐Derome, 1701, rue Parthenais, 12 étage, Montreal, QC H2K 3S7, Canada. |
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Abstract: | Abstract: The discrimination of falls from homicidal blows in blunt head injuries is a common but difficult problem in both forensic anthropology and pathology. Three criteria have been previously proposed for this distinction: the hat brim line rule, side lateralization of fractures, and number of lacerations. The aim of the present study was to achieve a better distinction rate by combining those criteria and assess the predictability of these combined criteria tools. Over a 6‐year period, a total of 114 cases (92 males and 22 females) were studied: 21 cases of downstairs falls, 29 cases of falls from one’s own height, and 64 cases of head trauma by a blunt weapon. The results revealed predictability rates varying from 62.5 to 83.3% for criteria pointing towards a fall. As for combined criteria in favor of a blow, the assumption was accurate in all cases (100%). |
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Keywords: | forensic science blunt head trauma hat brim line skull fractures lacerations falls |
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