Download LINEAR FRACTURE OF THE SKULL WITH SUTURE DIASTASIS

I -8
LINEAR FRACTURE OF THE SKULL
WITH SUTURE DIASTASIS
A specimen of a skull showing a linear fractures of the frontal
and right parietal bones with diastasis of the saggital suture in
the middle. One end of the fracture is situated 1 cm lateral to
the lambda on the right parietal bone. Then it extends upward
and medially for 4 cm, continues as diastasis of the saggital suture for 8 cm, extends downward, forward and to the left for 5
cm from bregma through frontal bone and ends at a point 5 cm
down and 1 cm to the right from bregma.
Conclusions & opinions:
Following conclusions are made imagining that there were no
fractures on the missing parts of the skull.
Weapon:Weapon should be blunt and heavy with a broad striking surface or a fall
on a hard surface. Linear fractures are usually caused either by a fall or
assault with a blunt weapon with broad striking surface.
Direction of the blow:- The victim should have either fallen or assaulted
on his/her back of the head . The linear fracture at the back of the skull
separates the bone but at the frontal bone there is no such separation.
Therefore, it can be concluded that fracture started from the back and extended forward through the saggital suture.
Circumstances :- It could be either homicidal or accidental.
Probable Cause of Death :- Since the fracture and suture diastasis running along the superior sagittal sinus the victim could have died from extra-dural haemorrhage. Subdural haemorrhage, brain contusions and diffuse axonal injury could also have caused death.
Dating of injury:- The victim should have died immediately after sustaining head injury as there is no signs of healing.