Technical note: A novel method for gentle and non-destructive removal of flesh from bones

• Published in: Forensic science international 2021-06, Vol.323, p.110778-110778, Article 110778
• Main Authors: Husch, Christian, Berner, Margit, Goldammer, Helmuth, Lichtscheidl-Schultz, Irene
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggression; Aluminum; Bacteria; Bleaches; Bones; Cartilage; Computed tomography; Defleshing; Detergents; Digital cameras; Environmental scanning; Enzymes; Femurs; Fluorescence; Fluorescence microscopy; Forensic anthropology; Forensic osteology; Forensic sciences; Fractures; Heat; Laboratories; Ligaments; Maceration; Metal foils; Microscopy; Microwaves; Morphology; New maceration technique; Nondestructive testing; Oven method; Photography; Rib; Ribs; Roughening; Soft tissues
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110778

•Novel oven method of maceration does not lead to surface changes or fractures.•This method does not need special equipment and needs 5 h for maceration.•Post-processing of the bones is not necessary. For bone preparation, several maceration techniques are available; however, gentle defleshing and soft tissue removal from bones without damaging the bone surface remains a challenge. The study aims to develop a novel, inexpensive, rapid, and resource-saving maceration technique that does not lead to bone surface changes and allows the study of signs of violence on the bone surface. Pig ribs and femurs were covered in aluminum foil and treated in the oven for 5 h at different temperatures with and without detergent. Additionally, femurs were placed in hot non-boiling water containing household bleach and detergents for 1 h. Examinations using macro photography, stereo and fluorescence microscopy, and micro-computed tomography showed no surface changes after treatment at 100 °C, such as flakes or bone cracks, on the ribs. The femurs showed surface changes after incubation in water, such as roughening.