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Analysis of experimental cranial skin wounding from screwdriver trauma

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Abstract

As part of a more extensive investigation of skin wounding mechanisms, we studied wounds created by five common screwdrivers (straight, star, square or Robertson, Posidriv and Phillips) on the shaven foreheads of 12 freshly slaughtered pigs. We fixed the different screwdriver heads to a 5-kg metal cylinder which was directed vertically onto each pig head by a droptube of 700 mm length. We examined skin lesions by photography and also by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our evaluation of differences in wound shape and size was based on geometric morphometric methods. Our results show that there are obvious morphological differences between the straight head and the other types. The straight-headed screwdriver penetrates the skin by a mode II crack which results in a compressed skin plug with bundles of collagen fibres forming skin tabs within the actual wound. The sharper-tipped screwdrivers wedge open the skin (mode I), with a clearly defined edge with no skin plugs. Geometric morphometric analysis indicates that shapes of skin wounds created by the five screwdriver types could be classified into three different groups. The straight head results in the most differentiated wound profile, with the Robertson or square and some specimens of star, and also the Posidriv and Phillips giving similar wound outlines. SEM evaluation of wounds created by a new and worn straight-head screwdrivers shows that the outline of the worn screwdriver head is reflected in the shape of the wound it created.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Jules Kieser

  2. División Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina

    Valeria Bernal & Paula Gonzalez

  3. Department of Anatomy, University College, Gower Street, London, UK

    Wendy Birch & Mark Turmaine

  4. Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Ionut Ichim

Authors
  1. Jules Kieser
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  2. Valeria Bernal
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  3. Paula Gonzalez
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  4. Wendy Birch
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  5. Mark Turmaine
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  6. Ionut Ichim
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Correspondence to Jules Kieser.

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Kieser, J., Bernal, V., Gonzalez, P. et al. Analysis of experimental cranial skin wounding from screwdriver trauma. Int J Legal Med 122, 179–187 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-007-0187-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-007-0187-1

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