Forensic pathology of trauma: common problems for the pathologist

Michael J. Shkrum, David A. Ramsay9781588294586, 1-58829-458-7

Forensic Pathology of Trauma provides practical advice to pathologists about the conduct and analysis of the forensic autopsy in a case of trauma. This volume reinforces the systematic manner in which the forensic pathologist must approach all medicolegal trauma death investigations in order to avoid common mistakes that may confuse accurate interpretation of a case or compromise a medicolegal investigation. The authors present a step-wise approach to the entire forensic investigation, from the collation of information about the death scene and the background of the deceased, to the external and internal examination of the body, concluding with tests on the evidentiary material collected postmortem. A value-added CD presents color images of the investigative figures in the text. The introductory chapter covers risk management in the autopsy and is followed by a focused examination of postmortem changes, the ”great pretenders” in forensic pathology, and the ways in which they can mimic or obscure trauma. Each of the subsequent eight chapters addresses common medicolegal ”syndromes” or trauma patterns, providing comprehensive coverage of both common and uncommon causes of each of these patterns. Trauma patterns addressed include those associated with asphyxia, thermal injury, bodies recovered from water, penetrating trauma, blunt trauma, craniocerebral trauma, vertebrospinal trauma, and sudden neurological death.

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Table of contents :

cover……Page 1
content……Page 10
01
the complete autopsy……Page 12
02
postmortem changes……Page 34
03
asphyxia……Page 76
04
thermal injury……Page 191
05
bodies recovered from water……Page 253
06
penetrating trauma (close-ra……Page 304
07
penetrating trauma (sharp-fo……Page 366
08
blunt trauma……Page 413
09
craniocerebral trauma and ve……Page 527
10
sudden neurological death……Page 615
index……Page 631