Decoding Complexity in Traumatic Injury Diagnosis: Forensic Approaches

Dear Colleagues,

The task of forensic traumatology and histopathological diagnosis is to investigate violent crimes. In such events, blunt traumas usually predominate. Forensic pathologists have to interpret various variables to determine when the trauma occurred, whether it was inflicted while the individual was alive (ante-mortem) or after death (post-mortem), and whether the injuries correspond with a criminal act. To achieve this, forensic pathologists rely on classic manuals and scientific literature to interpret the pattern of wounds, assessing their compatibility with the event through autopsy and instrumental analysis. The aim of this Special Issue is to evaluate new methods for addressing both classical and novel questions, with the goal of advancing methodological diagnostic processes.

While forensic medicine employs various specialized examination techniques, there is often a lack of standardization. In traumatology, understanding the time since death and the vitality of wounds is crucial. Ultrastructural modifications, such as erythrocyte spreading, must be studied to comprehend their manifestation. Routine microscopy evaluation should be complemented by two-channel confocal laser scanning microscopy for its superior resolution, optical sectioning capability, and three-dimensional reconstruction. Additionally, other microscopic and immunohistological techniques should be explored in traumatology. Furthermore, special dissections and autopsy case reports are welcome if they present novelty or employ new approaches. Epidemiological issues are also addressed in this Special Issue. For instance, protective measures are crucial in preventing spinal cord and brain injuries. In the realms of traffic medicine and work-related deaths, it is essential to evaluate the role of protective equipment in preventing such fatalities. Another area of focus should be the epidemiological assessment of blunt trauma resulting from falls or precipitations, aiming to distinguish them from deaths due to other causes.

In conclusion, the theme of this Special Issue aims to be deliberately broad in order to redefine the way traumatology is interpreted. Classical instrumental and microscopic diagnostic techniques can be studied in the field of traumatology, standardizing the results and making the employed technique applicable in forensic and judicial settings. On the other hand, it is important that new techniques are explored and influence the traditional approach to trauma diagnosis.

Dr. Alice Chiara Manetti
Dr. Fabio Del Duca
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.