Concentration of carbon-monoxide in carbonized bodies--forensic aspects.

The aim of this paper is to determine the correlation between carbonized fire victims' carbon-monoxide (CO) blood concentration and the cause of death. We have reevaluated and analyzed the causes of death over a 10-year period regarding CO concentrations and atherosclerosis. We have considered the possible usefulness of low CO concentrations as a vital sign in smokers and non-smokers. The study included the retrospective analyzes of 73 autopsy reports of carbonized bodies. All the autopsies were carried out in the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Belgrade over a 10-year period (1990-1999). The investigation included 53 men and 20 women (chi(2)=19.83, p<0.001) with an average age of 41.40+/-21.35 years. We found 10 cases of deadly carbon-monoxide poisoning, but further analysis of CO concentrations revealed 6 more cases in which CO poisoning could be considered. We found a statistically significant relationship between carboxyhaemoglobin concentration above 10% and the aspiration of soot (chi(2)=6.41, p<0.01). In five cases with serious atherosclerosis, the concentration of carboxyhaemoglobin was above 20%, although these concentrations can be accepted as the cause of death. Half of the deceased, in the moment of death were under the influence of alcohol and 19 of them had a blood alcohol concentration above 1 pro mille.

The facial-bone fractures among fatally injured car occupants in frontal collisions.

The retrospective study was performed of all deceased car-occupants in frontal car collisions in order to identify persons with facial-bone fractures. The sample consisted of 482 cases: 378 males and 104 females, average age of 39.59+/-16.01 years. There were 239 car-drivers, 194 front-seat passengers, and 49 rear-seat passengers. In 46 of 482 cases, single fracture of upper facial bones was established: nasal fractures were the most common, followed by zygomatic. In 118 of 482 cases, fracture of upper facial bones was established, as well as 70 cases of jawbone. The fractured facial bones either of the upper or lower face could not be a factor that predicts the position of the deceased in the motor vehicle at the moment of injury (lambda=0.989, p>0.05). The multi-fractured facial-bones were very often associated with the multi-fractured cranial bones - 85 cases (chi(2) =138.75, df=8, p<0.001), as well as jawbone fracture - 35 cases (chi(2) =20.52, df=4, p<0.001). Brain injuries were more present and more severe (coup and contrecoup-contusion and brain laceration) if more facial-bone fractures were involved (chi(2) =147.99, df=8, p<0.001). Cases with only contrecoup brain contusions, associated with multi-fractured facial-bones, were rare - 6 of 118. These fractures are very often associated with cranial fractures, as well as with brain injuries and were caused by intensive contact of the deceased's head with the car's pillar.

Characteristics of chest injury in falls from heights.

This study included 660 victims injured due to high fall. All cases are with injuries caused by the free-fall model of high fall. The range of the heights was from 0 to 70 m. The sample was divided into three groups of growing height: low falls up to 7 m, high falls from 7 to 30 m, and very high falls above 30 m. Statistical analysis was performed using two way ANOVA according to Scheirer-Ray-Hare in complete uneven block. Males were 71% (469), females 29% (191). In the analyzed sample, apart from the height of fall, the number of accidents is about 44% (290 cases) and suicides about 56% (370 cases). Thirty six percent, i.e., 238 of 660 victims had consumed alcohol before death (alcoholemia >0.5 per thousand). The objective of our study was to analyze characteristics of chest injuries made by falling from a height. The frequency of thoracic injuries is statistically significantly related to the height of fall (p<0.05); it increases constantly in falls from heights beyond 3m, so that the rib fractures were present in all falls from heights beyond 40m. The aortic ruptures were found in 21%, and the heart injuries in 16% of all cases. The frequency of aortic and heart ruptures was not statistically significantly related to the height of fall (p>0.05). A rupture of the aorta was the most commonly located on its arch (82%). The heart ruptures were the most commonly located on the atrial posterior wall (70%).