The accuracy of the Transition Analysis of aging on a heterogenic South African population.

Transition Analysis (TA) is an age estimation method for adult skeletons at death, using three skeletal traits together, namely, the cranial sutures (CS), the pubic symphyses (PS) and the auricular surfaces (AS). In forensic anthropology, estimating age at death is vital for positive identification of an individual; however, differences in skeletal elements have been observed between sex and population affinity. The aim of this study was to determine how accurately the TA could be applied to a population that differed from the original reference samples.

Differentiation and classification of thoracolumbar transitional vertebrae.

The literature states that transitional vertebrae at any junction are characterized by features retained from two adjacent regions in the vertebral column. Currently, there is no published literature available that describes the prevalence or morphology of thoracolumbar transitional vertebrae (TLTV). The aim of this study was to identify the qualitative characteristics of transitional vertebrae at the thoracolumbar junction and establish a technique to differentiate the various subtypes that may be found.

The association between healed skeletal fractures indicative of interpersonal violence and alcoholic liver disease in a cadaver cohort from the Western Cape, South Africa.

Interpersonal violence (IPV) and heavy alcohol consumption are major problems in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Cranio-maxillofacial fractures, particularly nasal and zygomatic bone fractures, as well as isolated radial fractures (Colles fractures) and ulnar shaft fractures (parry fractures), are indicative of IPV, while alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the consequence of chronic alcohol abuse. We therefore aim to investigate whether a significant association exists between the prevalence of cranio-maxillofacial fractures and parry fractures and ALD in a Western Cape population.

The translucent cadaver: an evaluation of the use of full body digital X-ray images and drawings in surface anatomy education.

It has been noted by staff at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University that medical students neglect the study of surface anatomy during dissection. This study reports on the novel use of Lodox(®) Statscan(®) images in anatomical education, particularly the teaching of surface anatomy. Full body digital X-ray images (Lodox Statscan) of each cadaver (n = 40) were provided to second year medical students.