Identifying Skeletal Injury

8/3/2019 Identifying Skeletal Injury

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Samantha Lamoureux


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For determining both timing and mechanism ofskeletal trauma

To understand biological parameters of past human

populations Temporal trends

Social structure

Interpersonal violence and warfare


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Antemortem

Refers to an alteration producedbefore an individuals death that

displays evidence of osteogenic

reaction. Features:

Evidence of healing or healedfractures

Development of a pseudarthrosis

Trauma-induced degenerative jointdisease

Infectious response

Dental fractures with worn edges

Surgically implanted devices

Refers to an injury occurring at oraround the time of death

Features:

Lack of osteological activity Healing or infectious

response Presence of fresh bone fracture

characteristics Plastic response

Absence of dry bone fracturecharacteristics Angular fractures

An overall fracture patterncharacteristic of a terminal event

Perimortem


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Trauma: Injury to livingtissue that is caused by aforce or mechanismextrinsic to the body.

Includes: Dislocations Fractures Trephination Weapon wounds Amputation

Exostoses Cannibalism

Accidental/ violentcauses of trauma

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=skeleton+drawing
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Force(s) that produce skeletal alterations

Assessment of trauma mechanism is dependent on: Pattern recognition

Contributions of intrinsic and extrinsic factors Types of mechanisms:

High-velocity projectile

Sharp force

Blunt force Thermal exposure


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Produced by impact from a projectile travelling at ahigh rate of speed

Features

Presence of a projectile in/with the bone Projectile entrance and/or exit wound characteristics

Presence of residue

Fracture pattern indicating a high velocity impact

Beveling of concentric fractures in bones of the cranialvault


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Produced by a tool that is edged, pointed or beveled

Features: Straight-line incised alterations

Punctures or gouges Chop or hack marks (clefts)

Kerfs


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Produced by low-velocity impact from a blunt object Being struck by an object or concussive wave

Or low-velocity impact of a body with a blunt surface

Features: Plastic deformation

Delamination

Fracture pattern

Tool marks or tool impressions indicating an impact Beveling of concentric fractures in the cranial vault


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http://www.google.com/imgres?q=human+osteology+compression+fractures
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=human+osteology+compression+fractureshttp://www.google.com/imgres?q=human+osteology+compression+fractures


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Produced by exposure to high temperature or directcontact with flame Color changes

(e.g., yellow, black, white)

Delamination Burn pattern

Shrinkage

Charring or calcination

Fractures


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The Analysis of Burned Human Remains- Christopher W.Schmidt


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Mechanisms

Fractures occur whenforces inflicted on the

bone exceed theelasticity of its structure

Forces may include Flexion (bending) Shearing Compression Rotation Tension

Complete or incomplete

Intra-articular, or extra-

articular Open (compound) or

closed (simple)

Direct force or indirectforce

Classifications


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Environmental: Water and fluvial

processes

Sandblasting

Weathering

Burial

Acid errosion

Mineralization by

ground water

Animal: Trampling,

Disarticulation/scattering

Gnawing, and digestion


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Douglas H. Ubelaker. Taphonomic Applications inForensic Anthropology. In Forensic Taphonomy, edited by

W. D. Haglund and M. H. Sorg, pp. 77-90. CRC Press, NewYork.

Sauer, N.J. The Timing of Injuries and Manner of Death:Distinguishing among Antemortem, Perimortem andPostmortem Injuries. In: Forensic Osteology II, (K. Reichs,ed.), Springfield, Charles C. Thomas. 1998.

Walker, Phillip L. (2001). "A Bioarchaeological Perspectiveon the History of Violence."Annual Review of

Anthropology 30:573596.

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Identifying Skeletal Injury