ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 4

Positive Identification By Post-Surgical Defects from Unilateral Lambdoid Synostectomy: A Case Report
Messmer, JM
Medical College of Virginia, VA

Hogge, JP
Georgetown University Medical Center, D.C.

Fierro, MF
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Commonwealth of Virginia, VA

(Received 21 November 1994; accepted 7 January 1995)

Abstract

The comparison of pre- and postmortem radiographs as a method of identification of unknown human remains is well established in the forensic and radiologic literature. Identification can be based on a single bony feature when there is evidence of prior surgery, trauma or unusual anatomic variation. We present a case in which a positive identification was made using bony changes in the skull secondary to prior surgery for correction of unilateral lambdoid craniosynostosis. The unusual radiographic appearance of the bony defect initially raised the question of trauma and foul play.

Keywords:
forensic science, human identification, X-ray, radiographic identification

Paper ID: JFS13852J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13852J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.