FORENSIC MORPHOLOGICAL SIGNS CHARACTERIZING STABILITY OF THE FEMUR, TIBIA AND FIBULA DURING EFFECT OF EXTERNAL DESTRUCTIVE LOAD

Abstract

Introduction: Fractures of the lower limb bones very often become the subject of forensic expertise when experts have to determine the mechanisms of fracture formation, make retrospective restoration of conditions of their occurrence, solve the issues concerning the possibility of their formation under certain conditions. The aim of study is directed to investigation of morphological signs facilitating solidity of the osseous tissue of the lower limb long tubular bones, and therefore, promoting biochemical processes of their destruction in case of external traumatic impact. Materials and methods: Expert investigations included 128 injuries of the long tubular bones of the lower limb: femoral bone - 40 cases, tibia - 46, fibula - 42. Fractures of every bone were assessed by the three thirds: proximal, middle and distal. All the 29 macroscopic and 8 microscopic morphological signs of the osseous tissue were examined. Control studies were carried out on 576 specimens of the femoral bone, tibia and fibula (192 specimens of each), removed from dead males and females aged from 24 to 70. Results: The most valuable morphological signs forming "modulus of stability" are: length of plastic deformity zones from the site of stretching and compression, deviation angle of sphenoid cracks together with the character of traumatic injury impact. An important value in this respect belongs to the square of the medullar canal, length of the biggest sphenoid crack, number of longitudinal cracks and shape of the medullar canal from the site of compression, total mineral content and the height of the biggest crest in the rupture zone. Conclusions: "Modulus of stability" of the osseous tissue of the long tubular bones of the lower limb most accurately reflects interaction of traumatic mechanical impact with the bone structures during their injuries that should be considered in forensic practice in the process of making expertise.