Questions of forensic science and radiology on live births and stillbirths: cases from expert practice

Abstract

Background: The article discusses the criteria, forensic and radiological “life tests,” difficulties in assessing the results of live births and stillbirths. It also dives into the history of the development of X-ray, including pre-sectional examination of newborn corpses. Two cases of newborn corpses that were subjected to pre-sectional computed tomography (CT) are presented. Case presentation: Case no. 1: Examination of a newborn corpse found in a cardboard box on the unheated terrace of a private house after a secret self-birth. Case no. 2: Examination of the corpse of an infant with massive injuries and the division of the body into two fragments, found on a sorting tape in the premises of a waste sorting shop. Conclusion: Postmortem CT of newborn corpses was an evidence-based and visual addition to the traditional forensic medical study. This helped determine the maturity of fetuses even at the pre-dissection stage to identify injuries and anatomical variants of the structure, to refute the presence of congenital deformities, and to establish and record evidence-based CT signs of live birth and stillbirth.

Keywords

newborns / forensic medicine / radiology / postmortem computed tomography

References

[1] Kolkutin VV, Kira EF, Barinov EKh., et al. Examination of fetal and newborn corpses: Methodological recommendations. Moscow: Russian Center of Forensic Medical Expertise; 2002. (In Russ).

[2] Колкутин В.В., Кира Е.Ф., Баринов Е.Х. и др. Экспертиза трупов плодов и новорожденных: Методические рекомендации. Москва: РЦСМЭ, 2002.

[3] Chopеn IV, Bezborodov AV, Tishchenko OV. Forensic medical examination of fetuses and newborns. Educational and methodological recommendations for students of the Faculty of Pediatrics, interns, residents. Stavropol: Stavropol State Medical University; 2010. 44 p. (In Russ).

[4] Шопен И.В., Безбородов А.В., Тищенко О.В. Судебно-медицинская экспертиза плодов и новорожденных. Учебно-методические рекомендации для студентов педиатрического факультета, врачей-интернов, врачей ординаторов. Ставрополь: Из-во СтГМА, 2010. 44 с.

[5] You will be healthy — you will get everything [internet resource]. X-ray examination in forensic medical practice. (In Russ). Available from: https://ja-zdorov.at.ua/publ/rentgenologicheskoe_issledovanie_novorozhdennykh/rentgenologicheskoe_issledovanie_v_sudebno_medicinskoj_praktike/79-1-0-1042

[6] Здоров будешь — все добудешь [интернер-ресурс]. Рентгенологическое исследование в судебно-медицинской практике. Режим доступа: https://ja-zdorov.at.ua/publ/ rentgenologicheskoe_issledovanie_novorozhdennykh/rentgenologicheskoe_issledovanie_v_sudebno_medicinskoj_praktike/79-1-0-1042. Дата обращения: 15.01.2021.

[7] Rukont: national digital resource. Tumanova, Shchegolev AI. Postmortem magnetic resonance imaging of fetuses and newborns. Medical visualization. 2015. N. 5. Р. 127–135. (In Russ). Available from: https://rucont.ru/efd/502572

[8] Руконт: национальный цифровой ресурс. Туманова, Щеголев А.И. Посмертная магнитно-резонансная томография плодов и новорожденных // Медицинская визуализация. 2015. № 5. С. 127–135. Режим доступа: https://rucont.ru/efd/502572. Дата обращения: 15.01.2021.

[9] Tumanova UN, Fedoseeva VK, Lyapin VM, et al. Identification of gas accumulations in the bodies of fetuses, still-borns and dead newborns at postmortem computed tomography study. Consilium Medicum. 2016;18(13):26–33. (In Russ).

[10] Туманова У.Н., Федосеева В.К., Ляпин В.М. и др. Выявление скоплений газа в телах плодов, мертворожденных и умерших новорожденных при посмертном компьютерно-томографическом исследовании // Consilium Medicum. 2016. Т. 18, № 13. С. 26–33.

[11] Rusakova TV, Kislov MA, Lysenko OV, Dubrova SE. Virtual autopsy as valuable assistance in building the algorithm of study the children corpses. Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine. 2019;5(1s):57. (In Russ).

[12] Русакова Т.В., Кислов М.А., Лысенко О.В., Дуброва С.Э. Виртуальная аутопсия как значимая помощь в формировании алгоритма исследования трупов детей // Судебная медицина. 2019. Т. 5. № 1s. С. 57.

[13] Klevno VA, Chumakova YuV. Virtopsia — a new research method in the practice of domestic forensic medicine. Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine. 2019;5(2):27–31. (In Russ). doi: 10.19048/2411-8729-2019-5-2-27-31

[14] Клевно В.А., Чумакова Ю.В. Виртопсия — новый метод исследования в практике отечественной судебной медицины // Судебная медицина. 2019. Т. 5, № 2. С. 27–31. doi: 10.19048/2411-8729-2019-5-2-27-31

[15] Klevno VA, Chumakova YuV, Korotenko OA, et al. Virtopsia in the case of sudden death of a teenager. Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine. 2020;6(1):41–45. (In Russ). doi: 10.19048/2411-8729-2020-6-1-41-45

[16] Клевно В.А., Чумакова Ю.В., Коротенко О.А. и др. Виртопсия в случае скоропостижной смерти подростка // Судебная медицина. 2020. Т. 6, № 1. С. 41–45. doi: 10.19048/2411-8729-2020-6-1-41-45

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Klevno V.A., Chumakova Y.V., Dubrova S.E., Muranova N.S., Popova O.M.