Experimental investigation of cranial fracture initiation in blunt human head impacts

• Published in: Forensic science international Vol. 300; pp. 51 - 62
• Main Authors: Isa, Mariyam I., Fenton, Todd W., Goots, Alexis C., Watson, Elena O., Vaughan, Patrick E., Wei, Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.07.2019; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Anthropology; Biomechanics; Blunt force trauma; Cameras; Crack initiation; Crack propagation; Cranial fracture; Defects; Experiments; Forensic anthropology; Forensic biomechanics; Forensic pathology; Forensic science; Forensic sciences; Fracture mechanics; Fractures; Head injuries; Impact analysis; Impact damage; Propagation; R&D; Research & development; Skull; Trauma; Trauma analysis; Variables; Forensic anthropology; Blunt force trauma; Forensic science; Trauma analysis; Forensic biomechanics; Cranial fracture
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.04.003

•Fractures initiated peripheral to the impact site in 10/12 experiments.•Fractures can initiate at multiple locations at or peripheral to the impact.•Peripheral linear fractures can occur remote from the impact site.•Linear fractures do not necessarily represent impact sites.•Mechanical responses varied in impacts with different shaped implements. The relationship between the point of blunt impact and the location of cranial fracture initiation continues to be poorly understood. The current study used high-speed video to capture cranial fracture initiation and propagation in impact experiments on twelve unembalmed, intact human cadaver heads. Video footage provided direct evidence that blunt cranial impacts can produce linear fractures initiating peripheral to the impact site. Four tests produced only remote peripheral linear fractures with no damage at the known point of impact, demonstrating that the pattern of linear fractures does not necessarily indicate impact site. The range of variation observed in these experiments suggests that cranial fracture formation is more complex than it is typically described in the current literature. Differences in biomechanical and fracture results obtained with three different shaped implements provided evidence that impact surface is one important factor influencing the outcomes of blunt cranial impacts.