Journal of forensic and legal medicine最新文献

{"title":"Pattern of pituitary gland injuries in fatal head injuries: A cross-sectional autopsy study","authors":"A. Veeravijayan,&nbsp;M. Arivanandham,&nbsp;M. Balamurugan,&nbsp;P. Parasakthi,&nbsp;S. Ramalingam","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Pituitary gland injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an increasingly recognised but underdiagnosed complication with significant clinical and forensic implications. Morphological data from Asian autopsy series remain scarce. This study aimed to estimate the frequency and histopathological pattern of pituitary gland injuries in fatal head injury cases and to correlate these findings with associated craniocerebral injuries and post-injury survival time.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional autopsy study of 150 consecutive fatal head injury cases was conducted at a tertiary care forensic medicine institute in South India between February 2021 and August 2022. The pituitary gland was retrieved at autopsy, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, sectioned in three planes, embedded in paraffin, cut at 6 μm, and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Histological assessment was performed by a single forensic pathologist who was blinded to all clinical, circumstantial, and survival data at the time of microscopic examination. Gross and histopathological findings were correlated with craniocerebral injuries and post-injury survival time using descriptive statistics, stepwise logistic regression (reporting odds ratios [OR] with 95% confidence intervals [CI], Nagelkerke R², and Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit), and chi-square tests.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Males constituted 74% and the commonest age group was 31–40 years (44%). Road traffic accidents accounted for 68.67% of cases. Histopathologically, 68 cases (45.33%) showed pituitary injury. The stalk was most frequently affected (haemorrhage 40.7%), followed by the posterior lobe (35.3%) and anterior lobe (30%). No individual craniocerebral injury subtype was independently associated with pituitary injury (all P &gt; 0.05; OR range 0.89–1.44). Pituitary haemorrhage predominated in early deaths (≤48 h), whereas necrosis characterised late deaths (&gt;48 h).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Pituitary gland injury is present in nearly half of fatal head injury cases. The histopathological pattern—haemorrhage versus necrosis—correlates with the post-injury survival interval and may, pending independent validation, serve as a useful forensic indicator at autopsy. These findings underscore the need for prospective studies in TBI survivors to evaluate pituitary function and inform clinical management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103225"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148632730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stature estimation based on palm and fingers of hand anthropometric measurements in an adult Slovak population","authors":"Michaela Dörnhöferová,&nbsp;Romana Stanková,&nbsp;Dominika Laššová,&nbsp;Mária Chovancová,&nbsp;Silvia Bodoriková","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Individual identification plays an important role in forensic anthropology, where biological profiles are created. Estimating body height is a key parameter, alongside age, sex and ethnicity. This study aims to assess the relationship between height and hand dimensions, and to develop regression equations specific to the Slovak population. The sample consists of 125 women and 90 men aged 18–30. Twenty-two hand dimensions were measured on both hands (hand length and width, palm length, finger length, and the length of individual finger phalanges), as well as participants’ height. The measurement data were subsequently analysed using simple and multiple regression analysis. Significant differences between the sexes were found for all measured variables, with bilateral asymmetry observed for certain dimensions. The accuracy of predicting height using these hand dimension-based equations ranges from ±5.14 to ±5.92 cm for women and from ±5.57 to ±7.35 cm for men. The results indicate a positive correlation between height and all hand-related variables (R = 0.366–0.894, p &lt; 0.001), with a stronger association observed between hand and finger length than between finger phalanx length and height. Our study provides equations that can be used to estimate stature based on palm and finger measurements among Slovaks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103227"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148703169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Testing the validity of the DSP2 sex assessment method on two European populations","authors":"Clara Van Melle,&nbsp;Henrietta Stover,&nbsp;Mark Grabowski,&nbsp;Matteo Borrini,&nbsp;Constantine Eliopoulos","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sex estimation from human skeletal remains can be achieved using a diverse range of skeletal elements, methodologies, and statistical approaches. While population specificity presents a challenge for most metric sex assessment methods, the os coxae seems to bypass this issue due to its universal pattern of sexual dimorphism. The DSP2 (Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste, version 2) is a non-population-specific metric sex estimation method that employs a combination of at least four of ten measurements of the os coxae to estimate sex probabilistically. Despite the method being based on a worldwide meta-database, many populations remain unrepresented. The present study aims to test the DSP2 method on two previously untested European populations. A sample of 51 modern Italian os coxae and a sample of 53 British historical os coxae were used. The validity of the DSP2 method was evaluated through the sexing rate (88.24% for the Italian sample and 86.79% for the British sample) and sexing accuracy (ranging from 95.83% to 100%). The sex estimates were obtained by DSP2 with a 0.95 posterior probability threshold. Intra- and inter-observer error analyses revealed close to excellent reliability for most measurements (with the depth of the great sciatic notch being the only exception). The results of this study support the use of DSP2 on populations not represented in the original datasets, including modern Italian and historical British populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103229"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148770924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental heat as a hidden risk factor in deaths in custody: Expanding the multifactorial model","authors":"Andrea Cioffi,&nbsp;Camilla Cecannecchia","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103231","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103231"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148714898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Suspicion of sexual assault in female perineal injuries to formulate guidelines for clinicians - A retrospective study","authors":"Sindhu Sudha Sahu,&nbsp;Kimi Soumya Padhi,&nbsp;Greeshma Vasudevan,&nbsp;Manoj Kumar Mohanty","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Perineal injuries (PI) in females and children may result from blunt trauma, impalement, road traffic accidents, or sexual assault, with presentations ranging from superficial abrasions to deep lacerations involving genitourinary, anorectal, or intra-abdominal structures. Differentiating accidental trauma from sexual assault remains a clinical and medicolegal challenge, particularly when history is unclear or inconsistent.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective analysis of challenging perineal injury cases presenting between 2019 and 2025 at a tertiary care centre was conducted. Cases included isolated perineal injuries, perineal injuries with associated bodily trauma, and extensive perineal injuries following reported consensual sexual activity. Clinical presentation, injury mechanisms, medicolegal dilemmas, consent-related issues, and evidence collection challenges were evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>A total of 532 cases of trauma and assault of female patients were forensically assessed during the study period and cases with perineal and/or genital injuries, history of sexual assault and suspicious cases wereevaluated for major challenges faced.These included injury-to-history mismatch, delayed presentation, previously treated referred cases with dressings or clots, absence of witnesses, and differentiation of impalement trauma from sexual assault. Variability in consent scenarios and evidence preservation difficulties were frequently encountered. Ten cases representing the spectrum of diagnostic and forensic dilemmas were choosen for discussion. A structured clinical–forensic evaluation strategy was formulated to guide history assessment, injury correlation, consent procedures, forensic evidence preservation, etc.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>A systematic interdisciplinary approach with increased awareness of medicolegal responsibilities can improve early evidence preservation, support accurate injury interpretation, and reduce the risk of missed forensic evidence in suspected sexual assault-related perineal injuries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103221"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148633268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Paediatric homicides: A retrospective study from a tertiary care centre in South India","authors":"M. Sugatha Gaffar,&nbsp;Robin Sandhu,&nbsp;Priyanka A. Ghuli,&nbsp;W. Sandhya Manohar","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103193","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103193","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This retrospective study identified the sociodemographic patterns, perpetrator traits, and causes of death in paediatric homicides from a South Indian tertiary care centre.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This STROBE-compliant retrospective observational study analysed autopsy records of 43 homicidal deaths in victims aged under 18 years, spanning 15 years (2007–2021). Fisher's exact test was used for categorical associations. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated and proportions were estimated using the Wilson score method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The cohort consisted of 24 female victims (55.8%) and 19 male victims (44.2%). Age distribution represented 4 infants (9.3%), 16 toddlers (37.2%), 8 children aged 5–10 years (18.6%) and 15 adolescents (34.9%). Asphyxia was the leading cause of death (16 cases, 37.2%), followed by multiple injuries (13, 30.2%), burns (12, 27.9%) and poisoning (2, 4.7%). Social stigma was identified as the primary motive in 7 victims (16.3%). Among burn victims, 8 of 12 (66.7%) were female (p = 0.50, OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 0.47–7.54). Intrafamilial perpetrators accounted for 74.4% of cases, with victim age being a significant predictor of perpetrator type: children &lt;5 years were more frequently killed by intrafamilial perpetrators (18 of 20, 90%) compared with children ≥5 years (14 of 23, 60.9%; OR = 5.8, 95% CI: 1.07–31.16, p = 0.039).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This single-centre retrospective forensic cohort describes demographic patterns, perpetrator relationships, mechanisms of injury, and recorded motives among 43 paediatric homicide cases. Initial crude data indicated a female predominance (55.8%); however, a sensitivity analysis excluding all five identified multi-victim familicide clusters (n = 13) yielded a male predominance in the non-clustered cohort (56.7% male, 43.3% female; n = 30), with mechanical injuries becoming the leading mechanism of death (43.3%), asphyxial deaths reduced (26.7%), and burn-related deaths proportionally stable (30.0%). Intrafamilial actors predominated (74.4%). Findings are descriptive and hypothesis-generating, and causal inference is not possible from this design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"121 ","pages":"Article 103193"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148335221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CPR-induced vertebral fractures: a case report and systematic review of literature","authors":"Camilla Gozzelino ,&nbsp;Nicola Pigaiani ,&nbsp;Jessica Sanna ,&nbsp;Alberto Chighine","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103192","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103192","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a critical intervention for cardiac arrest, but its forceful chest compressions can lead to skeletal injuries, including rare vertebral fractures</div></div><div><h3>Case presentation</h3><div>This case report details a 78-year-old woman with a history of cardiac surgery and obesity who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest due to a DeBakey type II aortic dissection. Despite 30 minutes of advanced manual CPR, she succumbed to cardiogenic shock. Autopsy revealed an incidental transvertebral fracture of the 8th thoracic vertebra alongside multiple bilateral rib fractures, with no evidence of pre-existing trauma</div></div><div><h3>Literature review</h3><div>A systematic literature search was conducted in three major scientific databases and reported according to PRISMA 2020, with structured eligibility criteria and methodological quality appraisal of included reports. Results were evaluated by two independent reviewers. Data on demographics, anatomy, bone comorbidities, and CPR were extracted independently and reviewed collectively</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>A systematic literature review of 16 studies identified 23 cases of CPR-related vertebral fractures, predominantly in the mid-to-lower thoracic spine, with Th10 being the most affected level. Pre-existing conditions such as osteopenia, osteoporosis, and kyphosis increase susceptibility to these injuries by compromising spinal integrity. The biomechanical forces of CPR, combined with structural vulnerabilities, contribute to this rare complication. This case underscores the importance of post-mortem examinations in distinguishing CPR-related injuries from traumatic causes, aiding forensic investigations. Clinicians and forensic pathologists should remain vigilant for vertebral fractures as a potential CPR complication, particularly in elderly patients with predisposing bone conditions, to ensure accurate diagnosis and avoid medico-legal issues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"121 ","pages":"Article 103192"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148298060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-resolution environmental variability during decomposition in a UK humid temperate climate","authors":"Paige Tynan","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103190","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103190","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental conditions play a critical role in decomposition processes and the estimation of the post mortem interval. However, access to high-resolution environmental datasets within forensic taphonomy remains limited. This study presents hourly environmental measurements recorded during the decomposition of <em>Sus scrofa domesticus</em> in a UK humid temperate climate between May and August 2021.</div><div>Environmental variables were collected using a Steinberg Systems SBS-WS-100 weather station and include temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, dew point, wind chill, and rainfall. Data was recorded continuously at hourly intervals throughout the decomposition period to capture environmental variability influencing decomposition processes.</div><div>Environmental conditions varied throughout the study period, with fluctuations in temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall reflecting seasonal variation typical of the UK climate. These findings highlight the variability of environmental conditions during decomposition and reinforce the importance of high-resolution environmental monitoring in PMI estimation. The dataset has been made publicly available and supports further research in forensic taphonomy, including comparative studies and modelling approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"121 ","pages":"Article 103190"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148267406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dental age estimation in the Chhattisgarhi population: A comparative study of Demirjian and Willems methods","authors":"Archana Tiwari,&nbsp;Shubham Kumar Indurkar,&nbsp;Krishnadutt Chavali","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103195","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103195","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Forensic identification, pediatric dentistry, and medico-legal investigations all often utilize dental age estimation. Demirjian and Willems methods are frequently used when estimating dental maturity; however, their accuracy varies across different groups, pointing to the need for population specific validation.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>Aim of the current study was to compare and assess the reliability of the Demirjian and Willems for estimating dental age in the children from the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using 142 orthopantomograms of children aged 10–16 years. Dental age was estimated using Demirjian and Willems methods based on the developmental stages of the seven left mandibular permanent teeth. The accuracy was assessed using mean error (ME) and mean absolute error (MAE). Pearson correlation and paired t-tests were used to evaluate statistical analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The Demirjian method showed a tendency to overestimate age in younger individuals and underestimate age in older age groups. The Willems method demonstrated comparatively smaller deviations from chronological age and often yielded better and more reliable age estimates. Both methods show positive correlation between chronological age and dental age.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The Willems method showed higher accuracy than the Demirjian method in this Chhattisgarhi population for dental age estimation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"121 ","pages":"Article 103195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148304466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fatal pediatric collapse with bilateral subdural hematoma and retinal hemorrhage occurring in a public park: a forensic case study","authors":"Waney Squier ,&nbsp;Chris Brook ,&nbsp;Cyrille Rossant","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103194","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We report the death of a one-month-old infant who developed sudden neurological collapse in a public park and was later found to have bilateral subdural hematomas, extensive retinal hemorrhages, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. No external or internal traumatic injuries were identified at autopsy, and the death was certified as natural. The public park setting was important because the same intracranial and ocular findings, if arising in a private setting without witnesses, might have prompted suspicion of abusive head trauma. This case illustrates the forensic importance of considering medical causes, including cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, in infants with subdural and retinal hemorrhages, and of avoiding diagnostic conclusions based primarily on the absence of an adequate caregiver explanation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"121 ","pages":"Article 103194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148311045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}