Determining ‘Age at Death’ for Forensic Purposes using Human Bone by a Laboratory-based Analytical Method

Determination of age-at-death (AAD) is an important and frequent requirement in contemporary forensic science and in the reconstruction of past populations and societies from their remains. Its estimation is relatively straightforward and accurate (±3 years) for immature skeletons by using morphological features and reference tables within the context of forensic anthropology. However, after skeletal maturity (>35 yrs) estimates become inaccurate, particularly in the legal context. In line with the general migration of all the forensic sciences from reliance upon empirical criteria to those which are more evidence-based, AAD determination should rely more-and-more upon more quantitative methods. We explore here whether well-known changes in the biomechanical properties of bone and the properties of bone matrix, which have been seen to change with age even after skeletal maturity in a traceable manner, can be used to provide a reliable estimate of AAD. This method charts a combination of physical characteristics some of which are measured at a macroscopic level (wet & dry apparent density, porosity, organic/mineral/water fractions, collagen thermal degradation properties, ash content) and others at the microscopic level (Ca/P ratios, osteonal and matrix microhardness, image analysis of sections). This method produced successful age estimates on a cohort of 12 donors of age 53–85 yr (7 male, 5 female), where the age of the individual could be approximated within less than ±1 yr. This represents a vastly improved level of accuracy than currently extant age estimation techniques. It also presents: (1) a greater level of reliability and objectivity as the results are not dependent on the experience and expertise of the observer, as is so often the case in forensic skeletal age estimation methods; (2) it is purely laboratory-based analytical technique which can be carried out by someone with technical skills and not the specialised forensic anthropology experience; (3) it can be applied worldwide following stringent laboratory protocols. As such, this technique contributes significantly to improving age estimation and therefore identification methods for forensic and other purposes

Predictions for the fracture toughness of cancellous bone of fracture neck of femur patients

Current protocol in determining if a patient is osteoporotic and their fracture risk is based on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). DXA gives an indication of their bone mineral density (BMD) which is the product of both the porosity and density of the mineralized bone tissue; this is usually taken at the hip. The DXA results are assessed using the fracture risk assessment tool as recommended by the World Health Organization. While this provides valuable data on a person’s fracture risk advancements in medical imagining technology enables development of more robust and accurate risk assessment tools. In order to develop such tools in vitro analysis of bone is required to assess the morphological properties of bone osteoporotic bone tissue and how these pertain to the fracture toughness (Kcmax) of the tissue.Support was provided by the EPSRC (EP/K020196: Point-ofCare High Accuracy Fracture Risk Prediction), the UK Department of Transport under the BOSCOS (Bone Scanning for Occupant Safety) project, and approved by Gloucester and Cheltenham NHS Trust hospitals under ethical consent (BOSCOS – Mr. Curwen CI REC ref 01/179G)

The diabetes epidemic in the South Pacific: a pilot study utilising hand grip strength in Tonga

Background: Hand-grip strength (HGS) has been shown recently to help in predicting disease outcomes and assessing health risk, particularly in cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Studies confirming its link to diabetes (T2DM) suggest there is potential for its use as simple screening tool. This study examined this possibility in a developing-world population, in a cohort of Tongan diabetics. Methods: HGS was measured in a randomly selected cohort of patients, comprising in total 149 patients, of which 91 with and 58 without T2DM. Other measurements recorded included patient demographics, blood pressure and date of diabetes diagnosis. Results: HGS was found to reduce significantly with age in all groups and it also related to BMI in males. Binary logistics regression models were produced using ‘HGS,’ ‘Age’ and ‘BMI’ which had a sensitivity of 82-84% (M/F) and specificity of 50-57%. Conclusions: This study uses one of the well-known effects and complications of T2DM, affected hand grip strength of sufferers, as a parameter in a ‘tool’ to predict the presence of the disease showing very good sensitivity. Further research is needed into the more general utility of the tool, while further work may help identify among the diagnosed those who would benefit from specialist treatment

Recent developments in the study of failure of solid biomaterials and bone: 'Fracture' and 'pre-fracture' toughness

Our understanding of the stress and energy requirements for the fracture of solid bio(logical)-materials has improved lately as a result of a number of investigations which highlighted some important new aspects of the failure process. The present short review article shows that under normal circumstances structural ‘damage’ precedes the creation of a fatal macrocrack and the onset of ‘failure’. The externally perceived material ‘toughness’ is a function of both: (i) the degree of prefailure accumulation of damage and (ii) of the properties of the final fracture surface. These two situations can be distinguished as ‘pre-fracture’ toughness and ‘fracture toughness’ and the relative contribution of each one in the overall toughness of the tissue is crucial for the final outcome of the failure process. Inevitably, materials which show remarkable toughness have to enhance their performance with respect to both the previous two defined quantities

Fracture of bone tissue: The 'hows' and the 'whys'

The mechanical performance of bone is of paramount importance for the quality of life we experience. The structural integrity of bone, its hierarchical structure, organisation and its physicochemical constitution, all influence its ability to withstand loads, such as those seen occasionally in everyday life loading scenarios, which are either above the norm, prolonged, or repetitive. The present review explores three interconnected areas of research where significant progress has been made lately: (i) The recorded mechanical behaviour of bone and the way it fails; (ii) the inner architecture, organisational, hierarchical structure of bone tissue; and (iii) the bone properties at the micro/nanostructural and biophysical level. Exercising a line of thought along a structure/function based argument we advance from ‘how’ bone fractures to ‘why’ it fractures, and we seek to obtain a fresh insight in this field

Evaluation of bone excision on occipital area of simulated human skull

Surgical effects of bone and soft tissue tumours, whether for biopsy or full excision have been researched from as early as the 1970’s [1]. These researches though have as main focus the biological (histological) rather the mechanical aspects of the effects [2]. With technological advances in biomedical and biomechanical modelling, a plethora of researchers have been exploring the possibilities of understanding [3] or even predicting musculoskeletal behaviour under different loading conditions [4]. This research is seeking to bridge these two different facets by looking into the mechanical effects bone tumour surgery might have to the structural rigidity of a simulated human skull

Evaluation of bone excision effects on a human skull model - II: Finite element analysis

Patient-specific computational models are powerful tools which may assist in predicting the outcome of invasive surgery on the musculoskeletal system, and consequently help to improve therapeutic decision-making and post-operative care. Unfortunately, at present the use of personalized models that predict the effect of biopsies and full excisions is so specialized that tends to be restricted to prominent individuals, such as high-profile athletes. We have developed a finite element analysis model to determine the influence of the location of an ellipsoidal excision (14.2 mm × 11.8 mm) on the structural integrity of a human skull when exposed to impact loading, representing a free fall of an adult male from standing height. The finite element analysis model was compared to empirical data based on the drop-tower testing of three-dimensional-printed physical skull models where deformations were recorded by digital image correlation. In this bespoke example, we found that the excision site did not have a major effect on the calculated stress and strain magnitudes unless the excision was in the temporal region, where the reduction in stiffness around the excision caused failure within the neighboring area. The finite element analysis model allowed meaningful conclusions to be drawn for the implications of using such a technique based on what we know about such conditions indicating that the approach could be both clinically beneficial and also cost-effective for wider us

Mechanical properties of nacre and highly mineralized bone

We compared the mechanical properties of 'ordinary' bovine bone, the highly mineralized bone of the rostrum of the whale Mesoplodon densirostris, and mother of pearl (nacre) of the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera. The rostrum and the nacre are similar in having very little organic material. However, the rostral bone is much weaker and more brittle than nacre, which in these properties is close to ordinary bone. The ability of nacre to outperform rostral bone is the result of its extremely well-ordered microstructure, with organic material forming a nearly continuous jacket round all the tiny aragonite plates, a design well adapted to produce toughness. In contrast, in the rostrum the organic material, mainly collagen, is poorly organized and discontinuous, allowing the mineral to join up to form, in effect, a brittle stony material

Simulated impact response of a 3-D printed skull, with an ellipsoidal excision, using finite element analysis

This paper investigates methods of determining the influence of an ellipsoidal excision (14.2x11.8 mm occipital region) on the structural integrity of a human skull when exposed to impact loading. Experimental and simulation-based analyses were conducted, using 3-D printed replicas and a finite element model; both were derived from a clinical CT scan of the patient (28 YO MC, with no previous health concerns). Previous simulation studies [1] have achieved managed to predict skull fracture locations effectively for nonexcised skulls

Sharp and blunt force trauma concealment by thermal alteration in homicides: an in-vitro experiment for methodology and protocol development in forensic anthropological analysis of burnt bones

Burning of human remains is one method used by perpetrators to conceal fatal trauma and expert opinions regarding the degree of skeletal evidence concealment are often disparate. This experiment aimed to reduce this incongruence in forensic anthropological interpretation of burned human remains and implicitly contribute to the development of research methodologies sufficiently robust to withstand forensic scrutiny in the courtroom. We have tested the influence of thermal alteration on pre-existing sharp and blunt trauma on twenty juvenile sheep radii in the laboratory using an automated impact testing system and an electric furnace. The testing conditions simulated a worst-case scenario where remains with pre-existing sharp or blunt trauma were exposed to burning with an intentional vehicular fire scenario in mind. All impact parameters as well as the burning conditions were based on those most commonly encountered in forensic cases and maintained constant throughout the experiment. The results have shown that signatures associated with sharp and blunt force trauma were not masked by heat exposure and highlights the potential for future standardization of fracture analysis in burned bone. Our results further emphasize the recommendation given by other experts on handling, processing and recording burned remains at the crime scene and mortuary