title: [Identification of an unknown body by means of osteosynthesis material].
abstract: The present case describes the identification of an unknown corpse recovered from water by means of two osteosynthesis plates with serial numbers. This method of identification is compared with the pros and cons of other possibilities of identification using medical findings. Although in Western Europe osteosynthesis material is normally removed some months after the operation, autoptic exposure of a suspicious bone may occasionally allow valid, fast and convenient identification of the body, especially if osteosynthesis material with different serial numbers was used.
authors.affiliation: Aus dem Institut für Rechtsmedizin des Universitätsklinikums Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: Benno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kummerow
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huckenbeck
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001860:Bone Plates; D004332:Drowning / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000473:pathology*