title: Scanning electron microscopy analysis of experimental bone hacking trauma.
abstract: The authors report on their macro- and microscopy study of bone lesions made by a sharp force instrument (a single blade knife), and a sharp-blunt instrument classified as a chopping weapon (a hatchet). The aim of this work was to attempt to identify the instrument by analyzing the general class characteristics of the cuts. Each weapon was used on human bones. The results indicate that macroscopic analysis is more problematic. The microscopic analysis assessed that characteristics examined were effective in distinguishing sharp from sharp-blunt injury to the bone. The microscope facilitates analysis unachievable with macroscopic methods, some three-dimensional characteristics not visible to the naked eye being clearly defined with its use. Emphasis has been placed on the value of SEM as an anthropologist's tool in bone lesion injuries.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine, Laboratoire de Médecine Légale et Anthropologie médico-légale, 28 Avenue de Valombrose, 06 107 Nice, France. alunni-perret.v@chu-nice.fr
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alunni-Perret
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muller-Bolla
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Laugier
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lupi-Pégurier
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Staccini
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolla
authors.forename: Gérald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quatrehomme
mesh_terms: D005269:Femur / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology*