Antemortem, Perimortem And Postmortem Bone Fracture: Could Histopathology Differentiate Between them?

Paulis, Melad Gad; Ali, Dalia Mohamed

doi:10.21608/ejfsat.2018.4188.1016

Antemortem, Perimortem And Postmortem Bone Fracture: Could Histopathology Differentiate Between them?

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ forensic science & toxicology depart., faculty of medicine, Minia University

² forensic medicine &amp; clinical toxicology department, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

10.21608/ejfsat.2018.4188.1016

Abstract

One of the important duties of the forensic experts is to differentiate between antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem bone fracture to estimate the postmortem interval. This study aimed to differentiate between antemortem, perimortem and postmortem bone fracture in late postmortem interval by histopathological technique. Sixty rats were equally divided into 6 groups. The first, second, third, and fourth groups involved rats that their left femora were fractured and left alive for 6, 3, 1 days and 12 hr. before scarification respectively. The fifth and sixth groups included rats that their left femora were fractured just before death and 2 hours postmortem respectively. Bone fracture was examined 3 and 6 days postmortem. Bone samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E), trichrome stain, and Prussian blue (iron stain). Hemorrhage, the number of osteocyte nuclei, the number of bone marrow nuclei, and the degree of bone marrow dehydration were assessed. Our results revealed that hemorrhage was more evidenced in 1-day fracture, then 3 days and 12 hours, while, less in 6 days and at time of death. It was absent in postmortem fracture. There were significant decreases in the number of osteocytes and bone marrow nuclei, bone marrow hydration, and Prussian blue when examined at 6 days postmortem in comparing with 3 days postmortem. This study concluded that H&E and trichrome stain succeeded in estimation of the age of the long bone fracture and differentiation between antemortem, perimortem and postmortem fracture, while Prussian blue stain showed insignificant changes in fracture produced just before death.

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