Classification of pelvic ring fractures in skeletonized human remains.
Pelvic ring fractures are associated with high rates of mortality and thus can provide key information about circumstances surrounding death. These injuries can be particularly informative in skeletonized remains, yet difficult to diagnose and interpret. This study adapted a clinical system of classifying pelvic ring fractures according to their resultant degree of pelvic stability for application to gross human skeletal remains. The modified Tile criteria were applied to the skeletal remains of 22 individuals from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México that displayed evidence of pelvic injury. Because these categories are tied directly to clinical assessments concerning the severity and treatment of injuries, this approach can aid in the identification of manner and cause of death, as well as interpretations of possible mechanisms of injury, such as those typical in car-to-pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents.
Department of Anthropology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
Socorro
S
Báez-Molgado
Eric J
EJ
Bartelink
Lyman M
LM
Jellema
Linda
L
Spurlock
Sabrina B
SB
Sholts
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries*
forensic anthropology; forensic science; motor vehicle accident; pelvic ring fracture; skeletal remains; trauma analysis