Skeletal Trauma Scientific Foundation Study and Methodological Review. This research
is a scientific foundation review of skeletal trauma research, and involves review
and interpretation of over 500+ peer reviewed national and international research
articles and books on skeletal trauma. It will be published in a volume entitled 鈥淔orensic
Skeletal Trauma: Scientific Foundation and Guide to Professional Practice鈥� (Wiley
Publishing, in association with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in Forensic
Science in Focus Series) and serve as an important guide for skeletal trauma research
and analysis and offer best practices for skeletal trauma analysis and interpretation;
Blunt Force Trauma Skeletal Fracture Patterning, Trauma Mechanism, and Cause of Death
(COD). This research evaluates the relationship between these three variables. Can
trauma mechanism and COD be accurately interpreted from skeletal fracture patterning?
This research has necessitated a 25 year retrospective review of all RUFSI cases involving
skeletal blunt force trauma with the goal of assembling aggregate data to answer this
question. Preliminary results were presented at AAFS (with RU student V Pate) in Feb.
2023, with additional work ongoing;
Addressing Systemic Inequality, Differential Mortality, and Public Health Through
Forensic Casework Aggregate Data. The above RUFSI casework review is also being utilized
to evaluate differential mortality and inequity across age, sex, ancestry, and socioeconomic
backgrounds, particularly in southwest Virginia. Preliminary results indicate that
individuals in our region who are of color, suffer discrimination and/or challenges
associated with poverty, homelessness, and drug addiction are much more likely to
end up as a forensic case in the ME office. This important population-based research
is showing that mortality is patterned, predictable, and subsequently potentially
preventable in the community in which it occurs. Preliminary results were presented
at the American Association of Biological Anthropology annual meeting in April, 2023,
Pediatric Cranial Trauma Mortality Risk and Three-Layer Cranial Development. This
research examines the correlation between ontogenetic development of the three-layer
architecture of the pediatric skull and mortality risk associated with non-accidental
pediatric trauma (i.e., child abuse) with the ultimate goal of mortality reduction
in childhood trauma involving cranial fracture. This research was published in the
January, 2023, issue of the Journal of Forensic Sciences (Boyd et al. 2023); and
Ethical Treatment of Human Remains for Research and Teaching. This research has emanated
from the OSAC national standards for forensic science.