The influence of sharp force trauma on fire’s alteration of bone

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between sharp force trauma (SFT) and fire. Wild rabbit cadavers were inflicted with varying levels of SFT and their skeletal remains examined after incineration for one hour. The extent and location of the typical patterns of thermal damage on bone were recorded, including weight loss, colour change and fracturing.The results indicate that multiple cases of SFT on a body allow fire greater access to the skeletal remains, resulting in their increased thermal damage. However, the thermal damage of a body that has suffered only a single wound may actually be reduced, particularly where the SFT was in an area of high soft tissue content, such as the torso. It is speculated that the high water content of the soft tissue provided an insulating effect. .SFT following incineration is far easier to detect in areas of low soft tissue, such as defensive wounds to the extremities and the head, and less apparent in areas of high soft tissue, such as the thorax and abdomen.