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Assessing Impact Direction in 3‐point Bending of Human Femora: Incomplete Butterfly Fractures and Fracture Surfaces , ,
Author(s) -
Isa Mariyam I.,
Fenton Todd W.,
Deland Trevor,
Haut Roger C.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.13521
Subject(s) - wedge (geometry) , bending , compression (physics) , fracture (geology) , tension (geology) , bent molecular geometry , ultimate tensile strength , materials science , fracture mechanics , composite material , geometry , mathematics
Current literature associates bending failure with butterfly fracture, in which fracture initiates transversely at the tensile surface of a bent bone and branches as it propagates toward the impact surface. The orientation of the resulting wedge fragment is often considered diagnostic of impact direction. However, experimental studies indicate bending does not always produce complete butterfly fractures or produces wedge fragments variably in tension or compression, precluding their use in interpreting directionality. This study reports results of experimental 3‐point bending tests on thirteen unembalmed human femora. Complete fracture patterns varied following bending failure, but incomplete fractures and fracture surface characteristics were observed in all impacted specimens. A flat, billowy fracture surface was observed in tension, while jagged, angular peaks were observed in compression. Impact direction was accurately reconstructed using incomplete tension wedge butterfly fractures and tension and compression fracture surface criteria in all thirteen specimens.