Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Rib biomechanical properties exhibit diagnostic potential for accurate ageing in forensic investigations

Bonicelli, Andrea; Xhemali, Bledar; Kranioti, Elena F.; Zioupos, Peter

Authors

Andrea Bonicelli

Bledar Xhemali

Elena F. Kranioti



Abstract

Age estimation remains one of the most challenging tasks in forensic practice when establishing a biological profile of unknown skeletonised remains. Morphological methods based on developmental markers of bones can provide accurate age estimates at a young age, but become highly unreliable for ages over 35 when all developmental markers disappear. This study explores the changes in the biomechanical properties of bone tissue and matrix, which continue to change with age even after skeletal maturity, and their potential value for age estimation. As a proof of concept we investigated the relationship of 28 variables at the macroscopic and microscopic level in rib autopsy samples from 24 individuals. Stepwise regression analysis produced a number of equations one of which with seven variables showed an R2 = 0.949; a mean residual error of 2.13 yrs ±0.4 (SD) and a maximum residual error value of 2.88 yrs. For forensic purposes, by using only bench top machines in tests which can be carried out within 36 hrs, a set of just 3 variables produced an equation with an R2 = 0.902 a mean residual error of 3.38 yrs ±2.6 (SD) and a maximum observed residual error 9.26yrs. This method outstrips all existing age-At-death methods based on ribs, thus providing a novel lab based accurate tool in the forensic investigation of human remains. The present application is optimised for fresh (uncompromised by taphonomic conditions) remains, but the potential of the principle and method is vast once the trends of the biomechanical variables are established for other environmental conditions and circumstances.

Citation

Bonicelli, A., Xhemali, B., Kranioti, E. F., & Zioupos, P. (2017). Rib biomechanical properties exhibit diagnostic potential for accurate ageing in forensic investigations. PLoS ONE, 12(5), Article e0176785. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176785

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 17, 2017
Online Publication Date May 17, 2017
Publication Date May 1, 2017
Deposit Date Oct 24, 2023
Publicly Available Date Nov 7, 2023
Journal PLoS ONE
Print ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher Public Library of Science
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 12
Issue 5
Article Number e0176785
DOI https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176785
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4424639

Files

Published article (9.1 Mb)
PDF

Publisher Licence URL
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Copyright Statement
Copyright: © 2017 Bonicelli et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.





You might also like



Downloadable Citations