[Drowning mortality in Catalonia (2019-2022)].

Objective: Data on drownings tend to underestimate mortality from this cause. The objective of this study was to describe fatal drownings recorded in Catalonia between 2019 and 2022 through forensic sources, present their characteristics, and assess the utility of this information for monitoring drowning mortality.

Methods: A retrospective observational study based on the register of judicial deaths from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Catalonia was carried out.

Osteonal Microcracking Pattern: A Potential Vitality Marker in Human Bone Trauma.

In forensic anthropology, the differential diagnosis between peri- and postmortem bone fractures is mainly based on macroscopic criteria. In contrast, studies focusing on bone histology are very scarce. In a recent publication, we showed that (perimortem) fractures in fresh human bones exhibit a different osteonal microcracking pattern than (postmortem) damage in dry bones.

Microcracking pattern in fractured bones: new approach for distinguishing between peri- and postmortem fractures.

Timing bone fractures is one of the main tasks of a forensic anthropologist, but still an uncertain diagnostic. In the literature, there are many macroscopic methods to distinguish perimortem from postmortem fractures, based on the distinct structural and mechanical properties of fresh and dry bones. However, this differentiation is still challenging, in particular when the bones are fragmented or still exhibit fresh properties.

Distinction between perimortem and postmortem fractures in human cranial bone.

Timing of cranial trauma is challenging in forensic cases and literature on the subject is scarce. This study analysed the macroscopic fracture patterns of perimortem cranial fractures and compared them to experimentally reproduced cranial fractures on dry human craniums. The results showed nine traits associated with fresh cranial fractures: undulated margin, flake defects, peels with peel defects, fissures, crushed margins, bridge, bone scales and beveling.

Visualization and documentation of perimortem traits in long bone fractures using computed tomography.

Perimortem fracture patterns in long bones, defined in previous publications, include layered breakage, bone scales, crushed margins, flakes with flake defect, wave lines, and plastic deformation. The traits help professionals during trauma analysis to differentiate peri- from post-mortem fractures. This study will therefore investigate whether these traits can be recorded with Computed Tomography (CT) as the non-invasive 3D imaging technique is becoming more popular in forensic science.

Intra vitam trauma pattern: changing the paradigm of forensic anthropology?

This study aims to improve a previous study that reported new traits to characterize a perimortem fracture pattern in human long bones. This second study aims to acquire further knowledge about these perimortem traits, specifically by improving the experimental setting-by using a Blunt Force Trauma Simulator-and increasing the sample size with a total of 43 autopsy specimens and 57 reproduced fractures. Additionally, we investigated whether these traits could be related to muscular contractions by adding axial compression in the experimentally fractured specimens.

Perimortem fracture pattern in ribs by blunt force trauma.

Literature on timing of rib trauma is scarce but remains challenging during forensic cases. This study analysed the macroscopic fracture patterns of perimortem rib fractures and compared them to experimentally reproduced rib fractures on fresh and dry ribs. Six distinctive macroscopic traits were found in ribs that might provide information about the timing of trauma, fracture mechanism and/or trauma circumstances.

New insights in the analysis of blunt force trauma in human bones. Preliminary results.

Determining the time of injury is an important but still a challenging task in forensic anthropology. In literature, many descriptions can be found to make a distinction between perimortem and postmortem fractures. Characteristics that are more related to fractures in fresh conditions, however, are not extensively investigated.