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Cranial surgical approaches in the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection

Publication . Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Coelho, Catarina; Gaspar, Rosa Ramos; de Matos, Daniela P.; Pereira, Ricardo; Cunha, Eugénia; Oliveira-Santos, Inês

In Forensic Anthropology, identification is comparing information from a person whose fate and whereabouts are unknown with data from a person who is present but whose identity is unknown. The rarer and more distinctive the characteristics observed during the anthropological investigation, the greater the probability of reaching an identification. Taking this into account, cranial surgeries can be considered good individualization factors. The cases of skulls with lesions compatible with surgical procedures from the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection are presented, and their identification potential is discussed. This collection comprises 302 adult individuals, of which four females (aged 55 to 94 years) and four males (aged 67 to 92 years) present cranial lesions of surgical origin. The results of the macroscopic and imaging analyses (conventional x-rays and CTs) are presented, along with a detailed description and location of each lesion. In five cases there is clear evidence of bone remodelling. This research, which combines anthropological analysis with imaging and neurosurgical insights, demonstrates the importance of correctly interpreting these lesions, illustrating how important is a complete and interdisciplinary analysis for forensic expertise

2025Journal article

Open access

Postmortem interval estimation of human skeletonized remains through luminol chemiluminescence

Publication . Ermida, Catarina; Rosa, Joana; Cunha, Eugénia; Ferreira, Maria Teresa

Postmortem interval (PMI) estimation represents a significant challenge in the forensic sciences, particularly when dealing with human skeletal remains. A screening protocol for distinguishing possible remains of forensic interest is a crucial tool for judicial purposes. In this context, luminol chemiluminescence emerges as a promising method, with low overall costs and required time. This method is primarily used as a presumptive test, based on the understanding that the intensity of the chemiluminescence reactions decreases with an increase in the postmortem interval, thus underlining its practical implications. This research aims to expand previous research on the potential of luminol chemiluminescence, evaluating its usefulness in estimating PMI. Our sample comprised 239 human clavicles, with known PMI. The luminol solution was sprayed on each powder bone sample in a dark room, observed by the naked eye and photographed. The intensity of the chemiluminescence reaction was measured using a binary and a 5-level scale. The present results reveal that this method is a suitable tool for PMI estimation as a presumptive test, reducing time and costs in criminal investigations. The findings underscore the high sensitivity of luminol chemiluminescence for detecting recent PMI but also highlight a notable incidence of false positives. Thus, our results confirm luminol chemiluminescence as a powerful tool for dating time of death, particularly for identifying forensic relevant remains. Still, the relatively low specificity indicates that it should be complemented with additional tests for further confirmation and scientific validation of the remains’ forensic relevance.

2024Journal article

Open access