Abstract

BARAYBAR, J.P.. Differential diagnosis of torture in skeletal remains: presentation of three cases. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2008, n.53-54, pp.277-290. ISSN 1988-611X.

While the diagnosis of torture has been primarily concentrated in the examination of living victims and cadavers, little or no work has been undertaken in skeletonised remains. This paper discusses the role of non-accidental toracic trauma as an indicator of inflicted lesions with the aim of incapacitating but not killing certain victims of Human Rights violations. In order to illustrate differential diagnosis of injuries attributable to "torture" as well as other mechanisms three cases are presented in which could be attributed to torture and one is an exclusion of that scenario and is more consistent with a road traffic accident.

Keywords : Torture; skeletal remains; rib fractures; hyperflexion compression fractures; slow loading.

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