title: A "skin-skull-brain model" for the biomechanical reconstruction of blunt forces to the human head.
abstract: In order to create and study blunt force wound morphology, a "skin-skull-brain model" had to be designed which would make the laboratory reproduction of a blunt force injury to the head possible. During the evaluation of the "skin-skull-brain model", it was possible to show that injuries inflicted to this model are fully comparable to the morphology of equivalent real blunt forces injuries to humans. Utilization of the "skin-skull-brain model" presents some significant advantages: the model is inexpensive, easy to construct, instantly available for use, and eliminates ethics conflicts. The main advantage of such a model is, in comparison with biological substances, the high reproducibility of experimentally inflicted traumas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Berne, Buehlstrasse 20, CH- 3012, Switzerland. thali@irm.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thali
authors.forename: Beat P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Kneubuehl
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dirnhofer
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001930:Brain Injuries; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries; D012886:Skull / Q000293:injuries