When you see me smashing somebodys skull, you enjoy it.

- Mike Tyson [1]

Figure 1: Mike Tyson in the Ring with Evander Holyfield [1]

1.

Introduction

2. 3.

4.
5. 6. 7.

Statement of purpose Literature Review Materials and Methods Ethical considerations Finances References

Recognition and interpretation of trauma = essential in forensic anthropology

Forensic anthropologists determine:

mechanism and cause (ballistic, blunt, sharp or

thermal trauma or a combination)

when the injury occurred (ante-mortem, peri-

mortem or post-mortem)

substantiate or reject witness accounts in legal

setting [3]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) - result of cranial fractures obtained in:

falls motor vehicle-related accidents violent abuse (domestic and nondomestic)

claims 89 000 South African lives annually [4]

Cranium is often affected in blunt force trauma [5] 73% of fatal cranial fractures in SA blunt force trauma [4]

Fracture patterns can be complicated and challenging to understand Accurate interpretation of the fracture patterns aids in:

identification of the impact site location sequencing blows determining characteristics (such as size and shape) of the weapon or object responsible for the destruction [6]

AIM:

Conduct an experimental study to determine, describe and illustrate the fracture patterns of blunt force trauma in the neurocranium through fracture propagation using current biomechanics research and technology.

OBJECTIVES:

Re-evaluate the research done by Gurdjian and colleagues [7] regarding how the cranial vault responds to blunt impact

Utilize an engineering drop tower system, which accurately simulates blunt force trauma in a controlled environment
Capture the fracturing in the bone using a high-speed video camera Compare all collected data with the results from the original studies as well as current SA forensic cases Create a clinical applicable and comprehensive characterising system to identify future blunt force patterns in forensic cases

A.

Gurdjian and Colleagues, Wayne State University [7-9]

Gurdjian - neurosurgeon and anatomist at Wayne State University Studies conducted in 1940s and 1950s Fascinated with the fracture patterns and mechanics of trauma in the human skull 1945 : Gurdjian and Lissner developed the STRESS COAT METHOD Tested on monkeys and dogs (wet specimens) and dry human crania

STRESS COAT = dry brittle varnish designed to indicate areas of tensile strain in the material (bone) that it coats thus predict fracture patterns

Stress coat was applied directly on top of the bone Blunt force was exerted on the skulls [9]

Cracks fracture lines in the stress coat determine the areas of the skull that were under the most strain

The force causes: Intending or in-bending of the bone directly underneath the impact site

Out-bending in the adjacent bone - further from the impact zone

Figure2: Cranium (roof detached) [10]

Gurdjian and Lissners Theory of MOA [7]

1.

Initial impact creates an wave of energy that disperses through the adjacent bone Remote areas experience a high concentration of these tensile forces Out-bending initiates in these zones and then radiates back towards the original point of impact

2.

3.

Gurdjian and Lissner defined this pattern as:

an undulating type of movement with simultaneous intending in the region of impact and out bending at the border of the area of intending [7]

Figure 3: Tensile Forces exerted by Blunt force trauma [8]

Simply: The direct blunt force impact of the skull first caused distortion and failure in the surrounding areas, then the fracture traveles back toward the impact site

The areas of out-bending = CONCENTRIC FRACTURES

Figure 4: Site of impact and concentric fractures due to blunt force trauma [7]

B.

Gurdjians Followers: Theories Applied, Modified or Suggested [7-9]

Many scientists used Gurjian and colleagues findings at an exemplar for their own:

Berryman et al. [10] Berryman and Symes [4} Galloway - Broken Bones: Anthropological Analysis of Blunt Force Trauma [11] DiMaio and DiMaio[12] Knight stuck hoop analogy[13]

Figure 4: Blunt force trauma induced to cranium [8]

A.

Materials
Table1: Subdivision of Dry Crania Obtained from the Ramond Dart and Pretoria Skeletal Collections

RACE

SEX Male Female Male Female

AGE: 20-35 years (yrs) 7 7 7 7

AGE: 36-50 yrs 7 7 7 7

AGE: 51-65 yrs 7 7 7 7

AGE: 65-80 yrs 7 7 7 7

TOTAL 28 28 28 28 112

White

Black

Table 2: Subdivision of Cadaver Crania Obtained from the Anatomy Department of the University of Pretoria

RACE

SEX Male Female Male Female

AGE: 2040 years (yrs) 4 4 4 4

AGE: 4180 yrs 4 4 4 4

TOTAL 8 8 8 8 32

White Black

B.

Methods
Engineering drop tower system - simulates blunt force trauma in a controlled environment
occur when propagating fractures manually

eliminates unpredictable variables (human error) that may

Monitored and recorded fracture event using a highspeed video camera

viewed and analysed repeatedly

Analyses of results with

original studies (done by Gurdjian) current known South African forensic cases (available from

the Department of Anatomy at the University of Pretoria

Ethical clearance will be obtained from the Students Ethics Committee of the University of Pretoria South African Police Departments and Laboratories where current forensic cases are stored.

Department of Anatomy of the University of Pretoria will cover all the financial costs towards this study

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11. 12. 13.

Keaveny TM, Hayes WC. 1993. Mechanical properties of cortical and trabecular bone. In: Hall BK, editor. Bone. Vol. 7. Boca Raton: CRC Press. p 285344. LeCount ER, Apfelbach CW. 1920. Pathologic anatomy of traumatic fractures of cranial bones and concomitant brain injuries. Jam Med Assoc 74:501511. Turner CH, Burr DB. 1993. Basic biomechanical measurements of bone: A tutorial. Bone 14:595 608. Willinger R, Kang HS, Diaw B. 1999. Three-dimensional human head finite-element model validation against two experimental impacts. Ann Biomed Eng 27:403410. Moritz AR. 1954. The Pathology of Trauma. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger. Oxnard CE. 1993. Bone and bones: architecture and stress, fossils and osteoporosis. J Biomech 26(Suppl 1):6379. Gurdjian ES, Lissner HR. 1945. Deformation of the skull in head injury: A study with the stresscoat technique. Surg Gynecol Obstet 81:679687. Gurdjian ES, Lissner HR, Webster JE. 1947. The mechanism of production of linear skull fracture; further studies on deformation of the skull by the stresscoat technique. Surg Gynecol Obstet 85:195210. Gurdjian ES, Webster JE, Lissner HR. 1949. Studies on skull fracture with particular reference to engineering factors. Am J Surg 78:736742. Evans FG. 1970. Biomechanical implications of anatomy. Selected Topics on Biomechanics: Proceedings of the C.I.C. Symposium on Biomechanics. Berryman HE, Symes SA, Smith OC, Moore SJ. 1991. Bone fracture II: Gross examination of fractures. 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Anaheim, California. Galloway A. 1999. Broken Bones. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. DiMaio VJ, DiMaio D. 2001. Forensic Pathology. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Knight B. 1996. Forenic Pathology. London: Arnold.