The Utility of Skeletal and Surgical Features for the Personal Identification Process: A Pilot Study
Annalisa Cappella B.Sc., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
LABANOF, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorDaniele Gibelli M.D., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
LABANOF, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Zuzana Obertová M.Sc., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Corresponding author: Zuzana Obertová, Ph.D. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMarco Cummaudo B.Sc., M.A.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorElisa Castoldi M.Sc., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorDanilo De Angelis M.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorChiarella Sforza M.D.
LABANOF, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCristina Cattaneo M.D., B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorAnnalisa Cappella B.Sc., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
LABANOF, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorDaniele Gibelli M.D., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
LABANOF, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Zuzana Obertová M.Sc., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Corresponding author: Zuzana Obertová, Ph.D. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMarco Cummaudo B.Sc., M.A.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorElisa Castoldi M.Sc., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorDanilo De Angelis M.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorChiarella Sforza M.D.
LABANOF, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCristina Cattaneo M.D., B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D.
LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento die Scienze Biomediche pe la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133 Italy
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This pilot study provides a conceptual framework for the application of the anthropological analysis of skeletal features and surgical interventions for the purpose of identification in cases of unknown deceased individuals with unavailable fingerprint, genetic or odontological antemortem data. The study sample includes 276 individuals with known demographic and clinical information from the Italian CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection. In the sample, 124 (45%) individuals showed one or more skeletal features that may be potentially individualizing. Of these, 79% showed two and more features, which occurred in a multitude of different combinations. Skeletal findings may provide useful postmortem information that can be compared with antemortem witness statements and clinical imaging. However, more research into the utility of dry bone findings and the availability of comparative material, including imaging, and epidemiological data needs to be undertaken before skeletal features can be implemented into identification protocols and databases.
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Citing Literature
November 2019
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