NCJ Number
214163
Date Published
2006
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes selected autopsy procedures and techniques the author has found to be helpful in the routine performance of medicolegal postmortem examination.
Abstract
The chapter first advises that every autopsy in a death that involves suspected abortion, chest trauma, or an open wound in the neck area during childbirth or while diving should begin with a check for air embolism. The next section focuses on pneumothorax, which is usually associated with injury to the lung. The author also discusses thrombi in the leg calves, which is a frequent complication of limb immobilization, prolonged bed rest, or direct trauma to one or both legs. Another section of the chapter addresses reconstruction of the skull for the purpose of victim identification and determination of the type of violence done to the head. Release of fingers and exposure of palms during full rigor is discussed as essential when searching for defense wounds, other types of injury, and obtaining finger and palm prints. Removal of the jaws is described as essential for dental identification. Other autopsy procedures discussed are documentation of the nose bone and adjacent injuries, examination of the cervical spine for whiplash injury in a traffic death, postmortem angiography and dissection of the vertebral artery in situ, neck examination, removal of the spinal cord by anterior approach, and fixation of the brain. Other autopsy procedures and issues discussed are exploration of the middle and inner ears, water in the sphenoid sinus as a factor in diagnosing drowning, documentation of retinal hemorrhages in children, postmortem examination of a possible rape victim, the collection of blood for toxicological analysis before autopsy, the toxicological analysis of skeletal remains, the collection and preservation of toxicologic evidence, and autopsy room photography. 22 graphic and photographic exhibits and 14 references