Analysis of metallic medical devices after cremation: The importance in identification

Abstract The recovery of a charred cadaver raises many issues concerning personal identification; the presence of prosthetic materials may provide very important and decisive information. Who is involved in the recovery of a charred body or of burnt human fragments, should therefore be able to recog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science & justice 2017-03, Vol.57 (2), p.128-135
Main Authors: De Angelis, Danilo, Collini, Federica, Muccino, Enrico, Cappella, Annalisa, Sguazza, Emanuela, Mazzucchi, Alessandra, Cattaneo, Cristina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Charred remains
Cremation
Forensic anthropology
Humans
Identification
Medical devices
Metals
Odontology
Pacemaker, Artificial
Pathology
Prostheses and Implants
Prosthesis
Sutures
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Summary:Abstract The recovery of a charred cadaver raises many issues concerning personal identification; the presence of prosthetic materials may provide very important and decisive information. Who is involved in the recovery of a charred body or of burnt human fragments, should therefore be able to recognize medical devices even if modified by fire effects. Metallic residues (585 kg) that came from 2785 cremations were studied. Medical devices were then divided by type and material in order to esteem the representativeness of each typology. The study illustrates the great presence of metal medical devices that could be of great help in identifying bodies and underlines that metallic medical devices types and morphology should be known by forensic practitioner involved in identification cases and that this kind of material can still be identified by physician and dentists, even if exposed to very high temperatures.
ISSN:1355-0306
1876-4452
DOI:10.1016/j.scijus.2016.11.003