Citation

Sioutas G, Karakasi MV, Kapetanakis S, Pavlidis P. Chin. J. Traumatol. 2017; 20(3): 180-182.

Affiliation

Laboratory of Forensic Sciences, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, GR 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece. Electronic address: pavlidi@med.duth.gr.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Chinese Medical Association)

DOI

10.1016/j.cjtee.2017.01.003

PMID

28502604

Abstract

A 45-year-old male was autopsied. He had fallen backwards from a two-stairs height to the ground and passed away. A skull fracture was detected in the left occipital area, extending up to the left side of the skull base. The patient's death occurred due to the very low thickness of the calvarial bones, which led to the aforementioned fracture, and in turn resulted in subarachnoid hemorrhage and death. The cortical thickness was measured and compared with average values at standardized points. Uniform bone thinning was confirmed rather than localized. Calvarial thinning may result from various conditions. In the present case study, however, the exact mechanism which led to the low thickness of the calvarial bones of the patient is undetermined. Death due to the susceptible structure and fracture of calvarial bones has rarely been reported throughout relevant literature.

Copyright © 2017 Daping Hospital and the Research Institute of Surgery of the Third Military Medical University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Accidents; Calvarial thinning; Cortical thickness; Forensic pathology; Skull fractures; Thin neurocranial bones