Fatal non-accidental pediatric cranial fracture risk and three-layered cranial architecture development.
J Forensic Sci
; 68(1): 46-58, 2023 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36529468
ABSTRACT
This study examines the influence of three-layered cranial architecture development upon blunt force trauma (BFT) cranial outcomes associated with pediatric non-accidental injury (NAI). Macroscopic and microscopic metric and morphological comparisons of subadult crania ranging from perinatal to 17 years of age chronicle the ontogenetic development and spatial and temporal variability in the emergence of a mature cranial architecture. Cranial vault thickness increases with subadult age, accelerating in the first 2 years of life due to rapid brain growth during this period. Three-layer differentiation of the cranial tables and diploë initiates by 3-6 months but is not consistently observed until 18 months to 2 years; diploë formation is not well developed until after age 4 and does not manifest a mature appearance until after age 8. These results allow topographic documentation of cortical and diploic development and temporal and spatial variability across the growing cranium. The lateral cranial vault is identified as expressing delayed development and reduced expression of the three-layer architecture, a pattern that continues into adulthood. Comparison of fracture locations from known BFT pediatric cases with identified cranial fracture high-risk impact regions shows a concordance and suggests the presence of a higher fracture risk associated with non-accidental BFT in the lateral vault region in subadults below the age of 2. The absence or lesser development of a three-layered architecture in subadults leaves their cranial bones, particularly in the lateral vault, thin and vulnerable to the effects of BFT.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ferimentos não Penetrantes
/
Fraturas Ósseas
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Forensic Sci
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos