title: A facial reconstruction and identification technique for seriously devastating head wounds.
abstract: Many authors have focused on facial identification techniques, and facial reconstructions for cases when skulls have been found are especially well known. However, a standardized facial identification technique for an unknown body with seriously devastating head injuries has not yet been developed. A reconstruction and identification technique was used in 7 cases of accidents involving trains striking pedestrians. This identification technique is based on the removal of skull bone fragments, subsequent fixation of soft tissue onto a universal commercial polystyrene head model, precise suture of dermatomuscular flaps, and definitive adjustment using cosmetic treatments. After reconstruction, identifying marks such as scars, eyebrows, facial lines, facial hair and partly hairstyle become evident. It is then possible to present a modified picture of the reconstructed face to relatives. After comparing the results with photos of the person before death, this technique has proven to be very useful for identifying unknown bodies when other identification techniques are not available. This technique is useful for its being rather quick and especially for its results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 3, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic. Electronic address: mjoukal@med.muni.cz.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joukal
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Tvrdého 2a, Brno 662 99, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frišhons
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011890:Railroads; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes
keywords: Crush head injury; Facial identification; Polystyrene head model; Reconstruction technique; Train–pedestrian accident