1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Foto rio

Márcia Vaz, MD

Medicolegal identification of skeletal remains through antemortem bone

changes  

Medicolegal identification of skeletal remains through antemortem bone

changes  

The experience of the Medical Examiner’s

Office in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

State population: 10,187,798 (2000 Census - IBGE)

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

05

101520253035404550

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

positive identificationnegative identification

Skeletal Remains

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

78%

13%

9%

DNA Dental Fractures

Positive Identification

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 1

August 2000 Found in Viamão Skeletal human remains,

no clothes Presumed to be R.M.S.C

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 1- Findings White, 40 to 50-year-old

female, 158 - 164 cm tall.

Right tibia and fibula with fracture callus in lower thirds, joined by bone bridge.

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 1 – Presumed decedent

R.M.S.C X-rays and hospitalization

records (1998 and 1999)

Case 1 – Conclusion: No negative matches and

number of positive matches confirmed identification.

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 2

February 2000

Found in Nonoai

Decomposed and clothed

human remains

Presumed to be J.P.C.

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 2 – Findings White, 26 to 35-year-old male,

172 - 176 cm tall

Left radius – fracture callus in upper third of diaphysis

Left ulna – callus at junction of upper and middle thirds of interosseous margin

Left femur – fracture callus and steel wire in middle third of diaphysis, metal rod in proximal half.

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 2 – Presumed decedent J.P.C. Radiographic studies (07/23/96

and 08/14/96):

Left forearm: fracture in transition from proximal to middle thirds.

Left thigh: complete fracture in middle third of femur. Firearm projectiles.

Metal rod to control femur fracture fixation

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 2 – Conclusion No negative matches and

number of positive matches confirmed J.P.C. identification.

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 3

August 2004

Found in Venâncio

Aires

Human remains with

adipocere formation.

Presumed to be Z.M.S.

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 3 – Findings White, > 40-year-old female,

160 – 164 cm tall.

External female genitals

Right femur – fracture callus in distal end of diaphysis and distal epiphysis

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 3 – Presumed decedent Z.M.S.

X-rays of right thigh and knee (09/04/00 and 09/17/00): metal plate and screws in fracture of distal third of right femur.

Medical records: three hospitalizations – removal of plate and screws, and treatment of right femur post-traumatic arthritis.

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Case 3 – Conclusion

Comparison of medical records and radiographic studies with results of medicolegal examination revealed only positive matches. The absence of negative matches confirmed Z.M.S identification.

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil 1st Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America

Conclusions Anatomical changes due to fractures provide an efficient

method of identification of skeletal and decomposed human remains when comparison elements are available.

In our community, it is difficult to obtain medical, hospital and dental records.

Identification by DNA profiling is the most frequently used identification method in our Service.

Medical Examiner’s Office - Porto Alegre, Brazil

Forensic Anthropology Service