ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 November 2002
Page Count: 4

Using Pre- and Post-Surgical Foot and Ankle Radiographs for Identification
Brogdon, B.G.
University distinguished professor emeritus of radiology, University of South Alabama Medical Center, AL

Lewis, BJ
Coroner and forensic pathologist, Franklin County Coroner's Office, OH

Dean, DE
Coroner and forensic pathologist, Franklin County Coroner's Office, OH

Rich, J
Clinical fellow in surgery, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, MA

Tatarek, NE
Physical anthropologist, Ohio University, OH

Powers, RH
Chief toxicologist, Hamilton County Coroner's Office, OH

(Received 29 June 2002; accepted 21 June 2002)

Abstract

An evaluation of the effect of surgical intervention on foot and ankle radiographic comparisons was performed. In this study, 34 sets of pre-surgical (“premortem”) and post-surgical (“postmortem”) foot and ankle radiographs were retrospectively evaluated simulating a postmortem identification. In each radiographic set, the films were separated by a surgical event to reproduce the effects of an alteration in the anatomy. The radiographs included both matches and mismatches. This study also presents a numerical representation of the reliability of a radiographic match following a surgical procedure. Results indicate that surgical intervention with subsequent healing does not preclude positive identification in foot and ankle radiographic comparisons.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic pathology, radiographs, human identification, surgical modification, ankle, foot

Paper ID: JFS15567J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15567J
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