The quantitative analysis of coronal suture separation due to cranial trauma


SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING (VAM)
January 3 – Febuary 28, 2021

Meeting Abstract


P12-4  Sat Jan 2  The quantitative analysis of coronal suture separation due to cranial trauma Baker, SA*; Lewis, PJ; Sam Houston State Univeristy; Sam Houston State Univeristy sab030@shsu.edu

Morphometric analysis of cranial sutures can provide evidence of microfractures, diastasis, and early sutural closure. Recently, mCT has allowed for morphometric analyses on much smaller scales and has been used to differentiate normal cranial sutures from early sutural synostosis. Results suggest that more data may be available at microscopic levels. Here, I tested for asymmetrical separation in coronal sutures to determine if significant differences could be detected by comparing the sides that received trauma with the contralateral regions. Three human cranial trauma cases and one control specimen from the Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility in Huntsville, TX were used in this study. All specimens were European adult males >56 years of age. Trauma cases included: 1) an intraoral gunshot wound; 2) blunt force trauma; and 3) sharp force trauma. Amira 6.7.0 was used to calculate the maximum distance of separation of the suture and total area of separation for individual scan slices. Asymmetry was determined by comparing the differences in coronal suture separation between the left and right sides delineated by intersection with the sagittal suture (bregma). To standardize data collection, imaging of the coronal sutures began at their origin (pterion) and terminated at bregma. Equal numbers of scan slices were selected and measured between landmarks at ~10mm intervals. Maximum sutural width was measured as the largest distance observed, and total open area was calculated. Paired t-tests were used to assess statistical significance in both quantitative measures for each specimen. Preliminarily results suggest asymmetry in both variables. Ultimately, these data could provide forensic scientists another method to assess injury and may lead to a more thorough understanding of sutural diastasis in adult human skulls.

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