Fracture Characteristics of Entrapped Head Impacts Versus Controlled Head Drops in Infant Porcine Specimens

• NCJ Number: 246098
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 58 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2013 Pages: 678-683
• Author(s): Brian J. Powell M.S.; Nicholas V. Passalacqua Ph.D.; Todd W. Fenton Ph.D.; Roger C. Haut Ph.D.
• Date Published: May 2013
• Length: 6 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2007-DN-BX-K196
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

The goal of this study was to compare the cranial fracture patterns generated on the parietal bone of a developing, infant porcine pig, Sus scrofa model.

Abstract

In many forensic cases, the job of forensic pathologists and anthropologists is to determine whether pediatric death is due to an abusive act or an accidental fall. The goal of this study was to compare the cranial fracture patterns generated on the parietal bone of a developing, infant porcine pig, Sus scrofa model by a controlled energy head drop onto a plate versus previous data generated by blunt force impact at the same energy onto the head constrained to a plate. The results showed that blunt force impacts on a head constrained to a rigid plate produces more fracture, but the same general pattern, as that for a head dropped onto the plate with the same level of impact energy. The study suggests that head constraint may be an important factor to consider in the evaluation of death causation for blunt force impacts to the pediatric skull. Abstract published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.