Forensic study of skin post-mortem changes as a supplementary test to determine post-mortem interval (first 78 hours)

Authors

  • Ana Laura Calderón Garcidueñas Universidad Veracruzana
  • Guadalupe Melo Santiesteban Universidad Veracruzana
  • Edmundo Denis Rodríguez Instituto de Medicina Forense, Universidad Veracruzana
  • Ricardo Martin Cerda Flores Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
  • Patricia Beatriz Denis Rodríguez Universidad Veracruzana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.16925/cf.v3i2.1739

Keywords:

autolisis, análisis forense, intervalo post mortem, biopsia cutánea
Abstract References How to Cite

Abstract

Introduction: Determining the post-mortem interval is usually based on macroscopic-morphological criteria (cadaveric phenomena); some other objective methods are often difficult to access in daily practice; therefore, we analyze the usefulness of the histopathological examination of the skin as a supplementary me-thod for determining the post-mortem interval. Materials and methods: 23 patients and 92 skin biopsies were analyzed. All samples were taken in a maximum time of 6 h post-mortem. Biopsies were classified into 4 groups according to the post-mor-tem interval, with 23 biopsies in each group: 1 (1 to 6 h); 2 (25 to 30 h); 3 (49 to 54 h); 4 (73 to 78 h); 21 histological criteria were analyzed with Fisher test and principal component analysis. Results: Skin biopsies of 23 corpses (mean age 51.6 years, 15 males and 8 females) were studied. 21 histological criteria were analyzed by Fisher test; statistical significance (p <0.001) with a reliability of 94.61% was achieved in 15 parameters. With the 15 selected parameters, a principal component analysis established that there were differences among the 4 analyzed groups. Conclusions:The skin histological changes may be used as a supplementary parameter in the forensic evaluation of the early post-mortem interval.

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How to Cite

1.
Calderón Garcidueñas AL, Melo Santiesteban G, Denis Rodríguez E, Cerda Flores RM, Denis Rodríguez PB. Forensic study of skin post-mortem changes as a supplementary test to determine post-mortem interval (first 78 hours). Antistio Rev. Cient. INMLCF Colomb. [Internet]. 2016 Oct. 20 [cited 2025 Dec. 6];3(2):27-33. Available from: https://www.revistasforensesmedicinalegalgovco.biteca.online/index.php/an/article/view/1739

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Published

2016-10-20

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2016): Colombia Forense

Section

Papers