A Forensic Pathology Tool to Predict Pediatric Skull Fracture Patterns

This research will develop and validate a forensic pathology tool based on established mathematical modeling techniques from the automotive injury setting that will help predict cranial fracture patterns in the pediatric human skull for a given set of input conditions which are dictated by witnesses, defendants, and investigators in a given crime scene setting. Such a tool would greatly aid the forensic pathologist in interpreting head trauma in infants and young children. The study will be performed by with the assistance of a forensic anthropologist from Michigan State University and biomechanical engineers from Michigan State and Wayne State University. ca/ncf