Classic but unexpected: a case of Jefferson fracture.

A man was found lying dead next to a ladder, with only a laceration surrounded by an abrasion visible upon external examination. No skull fractures were palpable. A CT scan and MRI showed a Jefferson fracture of the atlas, associated to a posterior displacement of the skull, a fracture of the dens of the axis, and fractures of the bodies of C5 and C6. Jefferson fractures typically result from a blow to the apex of the skull. In such cases, forensic pathologists should suspect the existence of a Jefferson fracture, particularly when no severe injuries are visible externally

Cleaning deteriorated elements of ammunition: Development of a procedure applied to cartridge cases from the Second World War.

Deteriorated elements of ammunition can be found while investigating different types of events. Exposure to adverse environmental conditions may lead to metal alteration (corrosion) or organic material deposition (contaminations) on the exposed elements of ammunition. From a forensic perspective, both types of deterioration pose challenges when observing marks left by the firearms used to discharge the corresponding ammunition (e.g. firing pin, extractor). The longer the time of exposure to the adverse environmental conditions, the more challenging the observation of such marks. A literature review highlighted three previously published restorative methods used to clean deteriorated elements of ammunition. The aim of this research is to develop a cleaning procedure applicable to cartridge cases exposed to adverse environmental conditions, while avoiding the degradation of marks left by the firearms used to discharge the corresponding ammunition. A first batch of 21 brass cartridge cases dating back to the Second World War (WWII) was used to develop a cleaning sequence involving the three methods. The efficiency of each restorative method was qualitatively assessed using optical macroscopy and the Evofinder® ballistic identification system. The developed sequence relies on successive applications of Tickopur® TR 7 (a diluted soft metal cleaner), sulfuric acid and finally Aqua Regia (HCl 37% and HNO <sub>3</sub> 75%), all of them involving ultrasonic baths. The resulting cleaning sequence was subsequently applied to three batches of Second World War cartridge cases discovered in France and Russia. This sequential procedure allows the effective cleaning of WWII brass cartridge cases while highlighting different marks left by firing pins, extractors, ejectors, and breech faces. Applying a forensic analysis and comparison process to the marks highlighted on these elements of ammunition can support the verification of historical facts when reconstructing events which took place more than seventy years ago

Multicentric case series of scuba diving fatalities: The role of intracardiac gaseous carbon dioxide in the forensic diagnosis.

Scuba diving fatalities post-mortem diagnosis presents a higher level of forensic complexity because of their occurrence in a non-natural human life environment. Scuba divers are equipped with diving gas to breathe underwater. It is essential for them to be fully trained in order to be able to manage their dive safely despite the varying increase of ambient pressure and temperature decrease. Throughout the dive, the inhaled diving gas is dissolved in the diver's tissues during the descent and if the decompression steps are not respected during the ascent, the balance between the dissolved gas and the tissues (including blood) is disrupted, leading to a gaseous release in the organism. Depending on the magnitude of this gaseous release, free gas can occur in blood and tissue. Venous or arterial gas embolism can also occur as a consequence of decompression sickness or barotraumatism. It can also induce drowsiness that consequently leads to drowning. As a result, the occurrence of gas in dead scuba divers is very complex to interpret, as is the difficulty to distinguish it from resuscitation maneuver artifacts or body decomposition. Although the literature is scarce in this domain, significant work has been done to provide a precise intracadaveric gas sampling method to enlighten the cause and circumstances of death during the dive. The aim of this study is to obtain higher statistical significance by collecting a number of cases to confirm the gas sampling protocol and analysis and gain more information about the cause of death and the events surrounding the fatality through the establishment of clear management guidelines

A Case of Gastro-Duodenal Artery Aneurism: Treatment and Complications.

We present the case of a 75-year-old patient with asymptomatic gastro-duodenal artery aneurism (GAA) that was coiled through the left femoral artery. The gastro-duodenal artery (GDA) was then embolized. Following the intervention, the patient's left foot became cold. A sub-acute ischemia caused by a stenotic effect in the left external iliac artery and by lower limb embolic phenomena caused by the introductor, was diagnosed. A thromboembolectomy of the popliteal, anterior and posterior tibial and peroneal arteries was performed with a Fogarty catheter with good results. Aneurisms of the GDA are rare. Rupture is a severe and unpredictable complication that complicates management and darkens prognosis. Though endovascular treatment for splanchnic aneurisms are used more and more often and offers numerous advantages compared to surgery, it is not without risk. A multidisciplinary approach with careful collaboration between the surgeon and the radiologist is recommended. Abbreviattions: GAA: gastro-duodenal artery aneurism, GDA: gastro-duodenal artery