Skeletal Trauma Analysis

Informationen zum Autor Nicholas V. Passalacqua received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University, his Master of Science degree from Mercyhurst University, and a Master of Arts and PhD from Michigan State University. Nick works as a deploying anthropologist at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command - Central Identification Laboratory, actively engaging in the recovery and identification of U.S. servicemembers from past conflicts. Christopher W. Rainwater received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida, his Master of Science degree from Mercyhurst University, and is currently a PhD candidate at New York University.  Chris works as a forensic anthropologist for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York City, actively engaging in anthropological casework in all five boroughs.  He also serves as the Director of Photography for the agency. Klappentext In the post-Daubert era, forensic science disciplines are increasingly informed by robust, statistically-sound experimental research. The educational value of the well-documented case study, however, remains as important as ever. Emphasizing known contextual information, this volume serves as a case-driven guide to skeletal trauma analysis through the unique perspective of each chapter's authors. Both forensic anthropologists and pathologists contribute skeletal trauma cases covering a range of topics including child abuse, blunt force trauma, descents from height, plane crashes, sharp force trauma and dismemberment, gunshot wounds, blast trauma, and burned body interpretation. Several chapters also include a discussion of potentially confounding taphonomic influences such as animal scavenging, water immersion, burning, and extended postmortem intervals. Detailed descriptions with multiple supporting images allow the practitioner's skeletal trauma interpretation to be compared to the "answer" as it pertains to the known circumstances surrounding the traumatic events of each case. Zusammenfassung In the post-Daubert era, forensic science disciplines are increasingly informed by robust, statistically-sound experimental research. The educational value of the well-documented case study, however, remains as important as ever. Inhaltsverzeichnis List of contributors vii 1 Introduction 1 Nicholas V. Passalacqua and Christopher W. Rainwater 2 Atypical gunshot and blunt force injuries: wounds along the biomechanical continuum 7 Brian F. Spatola 3 Over-interpretation of bone injuries and implications for cause and manner of death 27 João Pinheiro, Eugénia Cunha, and Steven Symes 4 Skeletal injuries in cases of child abuse: two case studies from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences 42 Jason M. Wiersema and Jennifer C. Love 5 Blunt force trauma patterns in the human skull and thorax: a case study from northern California 56 Eric J. Bartelink 6 Patterns of skeletal trauma inflicted during the Spanish Civil War 74 Nicholas V. Passalacqua, Ciarán Brewster, Marina Martínez de Pinillos González, and José Miguel Carretero Díaz 7 Shot and beaten to death? Suspected projectile and blunt force trauma in a case involving an extended period of post-mortem water immersion 90 Hugo F.V. Cardoso, Katerina S. Puentes, and Luís F.N. Coelho 8 Man's best friend: a case study of ballistics trauma and animal scavenging 108 Gina Hart 9 Skeletal evidence of violent sexual assault in remains with excessive evidence of scavenging 118 Hugh E. Berryman and Tiffany B. Saul 10 Neurocranial fractures 130 Jennifer C. Love 11 Blunt force trauma associated with a fall from heights 147 MariaTeresa A. Tersigni-Tarrant 12 Low-velocity impact trauma: an illustrative selection of cases from the Joint POW/MIA ...

List of contents

List of contributors xi
 
1 Introduction 1
Nicholas V. Passalacqua and Christopher W. Rainwater
 
Skeletal trauma analysis: case studies in context 2
 
References 6
 
2 Atypical gunshot and blunt force injuries: wounds along the biomechanical continuum 7
Brian F. Spatola
 
Introduction 7
 
Background 8
 
Gunshot trauma 10
 
Blunt force trauma 11
 
Biomechanical continuum 12
 
Case 1: depressed fracture of inner table from historic gunshot contusion 14
 
Case 2: depressed fracture from .32 caliber, short, Smith & Wesson projectile 15
 
Case 3: penetrating depressed fracture from detached umbrella tip 17
 
Case 4: depressed fracture from perforating blunt impact from edged metal foreign object 19
 
Discussion 19
 
Conclusion 23
 
Acknowledgments 24
 
Disclaimer 24
 
References 24
 
3 Over-interpretation of bone injuries and implications for cause and manner of death 27
João Pinheiro, Eugénia Cunha, and Steven Symes
 
Introduction 27
 
The cases 29
 
Scene context 33
 
Autopsy and police investigation 35
 
Discussion and conclusions 38
 
Acknowledgments 40
 
References 40
 
4 Skeletal injuries in cases of child abuse: two case studies from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences 42
Jason M. Wiersema and Jennifer C. Love
 
Introduction 42
 
Case 1 43
 
Case 2 50
 
Conclusions 55
 
References 55
 
5 Blunt force trauma patterns in the human skull and thorax: a case study from northern California 56
Eric J. Bartelink
 
Introduction 56
 
Case background 58
 
Biological profile 58
 
Antemortem trauma 59
 
Perimortem trauma 61
 
Trauma interpretation 66
 
Case resolution 68
 
Conclusions 69
 
Acknowledgments 70
 
References 70
 
6 Patterns of skeletal trauma inflicted during the Spanish Civil War 74
Nicholas V. Passalacqua, Ciarán Brewster, Marina Martínez de Pinillos González, and José Miguel Carretero Díaz
 
Introduction 74
 
The Spanish Civil War 74
 
Materials 76
 
Examples of trauma from Monte Costaján 77
 
Patterns of skeletal trauma 85
 
Conclusions 88
 
References 89
 
7 Shot and beaten to death? Suspected projectile and blunt force trauma in a case involving an extended period of postmortem water immersion 90
Hugo F.V. Cardoso, Katerina S. Puentes, and Luís F.N. Coelho
 
Introduction 90
 
Case description 92
 
Trauma analysis 94
 
Discussion and conclusions 102
 
Acknowledgments 106
 
References 106
 
8 Man's best friend: a case study of ballistics trauma and animal scavenging 108
Gina Hart
 
Introduction 108
 
Bone biomechanics 108
 
Case study 110
 
References 116
 
9 Skeletal evidence of violent sexual assault in remains with excessive evidence of scavenging 118
Hugh E. Berryman and Tiffany B. Saul
 
Introduction 118
 
Case history 118
 
Analysis 119
 
An additional finding 124
 
Discussion 126
 
Conclusions 128
 
References 129
 
10 Neurocranial fractures 130
Jennifer C. Love
 
Introduction 130
 
Case 1 130
 
Case 2 131
 
Understanding neurocranial fracture patterns 136
 
Experimental studies 139
 
Computer modeling 141
 
Case studies 144
 
Conclusions 145
 
References 145
 
11 Blunt force trauma asso

Product details

• Authors: Passalacqua, Nicholas V. Passalacqua, Nicholas V. Rainwater Passalacqua, Christopher W Rainwater, Christopher W. Rainwater
• Assisted by: Nicholas V. Passalacqua (Editor), Passalacqua Nicholas V. (Editor), Christopher W. Rainwater (Editor), Rainwater Christopher W. (Editor), Nichola V Passalacqua (Editor), Nicholas V Passalacqua (Editor), W Rainwater (Editor), W Rainwater (Editor)
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 29.05.2015
• EAN: 9781118384220
• ISBN: 978-1-118-38422-0
• No. of pages: 304
• Dimensions: 175 mm x 250 mm x 20 mm
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Chemistry; Anthropologie, Chemie, Forensik, Anthropology, chemistry, Analytische Chemie / Forensik, Forensics, Biologische Anthropologie, Biological Anthropology