Since its inception, the MSUFAL has been a leading contributor to research in forensic anthropology. From dynamic exploration of skeletal variation through cranial and postcranial nonmetric traits and innovative skeletal trauma and fractography studies, anthropological and osteological research is at the heart of the MSUFAL. In 2019, the lab was fortunate to add a new research focus on the histological progression and timing of cranial fracture repair undertaken by MSUFAL’s very own, Dr. Carolyn Isaac, and MSU alumnus, Dr. Jered Cornelison, a forensic anthropologist at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMED).
The concept for this research arose from multiple child abuse forensic cases that Dr. Isaac and Dr. Cornelison worked on where the major question was, “How old are these fractures?” Well that seemed like a simple enough question and they were confident they could provide a better answer than just “antemortem”. Unfortunately, after scouring the literature it became obvious that there was no empirical method for estimating the age of cranial fractures and that other methods for estimating fracture age were based on a practitioner’s experience alone. This was a major barrier in cases where fractures grossly appeared to be in different stages of healing signifying repeated abusive episodes. Without the methods to age cranial fractures, forensic anthropologists, pathologists and physicians are often left with the questions of ‘When did these fractures occur?’, ‘Did they happen at the same time?’ and ‘Do the estimates of fracture age match with information provided by caregivers?’
After a lot of thought and, let’s be honest, a ton of paperwork, planning, and hair pulling, Drs. Isaac and Cornelison, along with Co-PI, Dr. Joseph Prahlow of WMED, developed a project to create a database of known age cranial fractures and a method to histologically assess the tissues and cells associated with fracture repair in the cranium. This endeavor is the initial phase of the overarching research goal to eventually derive a time since fracture estimation method for cranial defects. The project entitled, “Investigations on the Cellular and Morphologic Characteristics of Cranial Vault Fracture: Research and Development of a Time Since Fracture Protocol Database” (now that’s a title!) was awarded funding in 2017 through the National Institute of Justice!
After four years of fracture sampling, database-building, evaluation tracking and a whole lot of troubleshooting, we are so excited to share that the Repository of Antemortem Injury Response, or REPAIR database, has recently made its launch! REPAIR is an easily accessible online database (repair.orainc.com) which provides a continuously growing collection of known age cranial fractures and surgical interventions of varying forms and causes from children and adults. Extensive de-identified case information, photographs, radiographs, and histological photomicrographs using four different stains are provided for each sample. The database is also equipped with a case submission portal for those who wish to contribute samples. The samples housed in REPAIR are also available for use by researchers, educators, and as a comparative case resource for practitioners. Access can be granted through the registration link at repair.orainc.com.
Reflecting on the value of the database, Dr. Isaac says, ”Our goal was to create a space to collect cranial fracture samples of known age from forensic practitioners across the country and beyond to advance our collective understanding of the histological progression of fracture healing and how that can be used to estimate the age of an injury. While no single lab or practitioner may have enough cases to empirically evaluate fracture age, if we can combine efforts to collect such samples and share them with each other, we have a much better chance of developing a method for fracture age estimation and a powerful tool for detecting abuse from the skeleton. We hope that REPAIR can serve as that space.”
Are you interested in more information about the project and database? Check out our recent publication about REPAIR at https://rdcu.be/cEyZy and NIJ report: Investigations on the Cellular and Morphologic Characteristics of Cranial Vault Fracture: Research and Development of a Time Since Fracture Protocol and Database | Office of Justice Programs (ojp.gov).
Authored by: Clara Devota
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