Forensic fractography of bone using computed tomography (CT) scans

Fractography is the study of fracture surface morphology and its relationship to crack propagation. Recent work has demonstrated the utility of fractography for interpreting crack propagation and impact direction in fractured bones as part of forensic anthropological trauma analyses on skeletonized remains. In this proof-of-concept work, we assess whether the science of fractography can be applied using CT scans of bone fractures. For CT scans to have practical potential for fractographic analysis, the resolution must sufficiently capture and reveal fracture surface features such as bone mirror, arrest ridges, wake features, and cantilever curl. A routine forensic postmortem CT of a fractured femur resulting from a motor vehicle accident was assessed from a volume rendering. Some of the smaller surface features were not observed due to the resolution of the CT scan, but several larger fractographic features were observed, permitting an interpretation of crack propagation and force direction. It therefore appears that fractography can be applied to CT scans and may have utility in forensic contexts for evaluating skeletal trauma. This approach may also have applications in clinical contexts, or in forensic investigations involving the injured living.