Suitability of 3D printing cranial trauma: Prospective novel applications and limitations of 3D replicas

Rachael M Carew,James French,Ruth M Morgan

doi:10.1016/j.fsir.2021.100218

Rachael M Carew, James French + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2021.100218

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Abstract

3D printed reconstructions of skeletal material offer a novel, interactive and increasingly used tool to support courtroom testimony and aid juror interpretation of expert testimony. While research has begun to address the accuracy of 3D printed skeletal material, there has been little consideration of the diverse applications of prints to support trauma demonstrations, particularly in relation to gunshot trauma. This study explored the suitability of three printed human crania replicas exhibiting either gunshot trauma or blunt force trauma for identifying whether the prints were sufficiently accurate for the presentation of trauma wounds. The data indicate that metric measurement and qualitative assessment of trauma macromorphology was possible from the 3D printed reconstructions. The findings also offer an indication that it is possible to obtain data around the accuracy of 3D printing bullet wounds and for establishing a bullet path. However, some limitations of prints reconstructed from post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) data were identified including the observation that not all fracture lines were successfully replicated which indicates that at present virtual models should be used concurrently with 3D prints in court.

Highlights

Recording and demonstrating peri-mortem skeletal trauma is an important aspect of medico-legal investigations [1]
The measurement data obtained by observers 1 and 2 (Table 2) were explored to assess the accuracy of the trauma wound measurement from a print compared with the measurement from the virtual model (Table 3)
This study evaluates the suitability of three 3D printed cranial trauma examples as 3D physical reconstructions

Summary

Introduction

Recording and demonstrating peri-mortem skeletal trauma is an important aspect of medico-legal investigations [1]. Through the anal ysis of peri-mortem skeletal injuries, a forensic specialist (e.g. a forensic anthropologist, pathologist, or radiographer) can ascertain important intelligence to inform an indication of the cause of death of an indi vidual, as well as the mechanism of death or the mode of body disposal [2]. These findings may be presented to a court of law, where the consideration of potentially graphic, confrontational evidence needs to be carefully considered for its prejudicial impact and admissibility re quirements [3]. This study investigates the suitability of novel three-dimensional (3D) printed trauma models for potential investigative or courtroom demonstration purposes, to begin to explore the applications of 3D printed trauma wounds for forensic applications

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