Decoding Complexity in Traumatic Injury Diagnosis: Forensic Approaches

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 2375

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: forensic pathology; histology; immunohistochemistry; genetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: forensic pathology; criminology; crime scene investigation; forensic genetics and histopathology sciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

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.

Keywords

  • traumatology
  • forensic pathology
  • vitality
  • post-mortem examination
  • trauma diagnosis
  • forensic imaging
  • individual protections
  • job security
  • histology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

17 pages, 1991 KB  
Review
Shaken Adult Syndrome: Defining a New Traumatic Entity with an Evidence-Based Approach
by Fabio Del Duca, Gianpietro Volonnino, Biancamaria Treves, Alessandra De Matteis, Nicola Di Fazio, Raffaele La Russa, Paola Frati and Aniello Maiese
Diagnostics 2026, 16(2), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16020319 - 19 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1993
Abstract
Major traumas result from the application of multiple force components that, in adulthood, can lead to high mortality and morbidity. In forensic practice, pathological consequences arising from the rapid flexion–extension of an adult victim’s soma are observed, with typical intracranial and ophthalmological findings. [...] Read more.
Major traumas result from the application of multiple force components that, in adulthood, can lead to high mortality and morbidity. In forensic practice, pathological consequences arising from the rapid flexion–extension of an adult victim’s soma are observed, with typical intracranial and ophthalmological findings. The totality of these findings allows for a contribution to the definition of the Shaken Adult Syndrome (SAS). A comprehensive review, employing the PRISMA methodology, was conducted on international works pertaining to SAS. This resulted in the identification of six scientific papers, which were analyzed separately. It emerged that, for the diagnosis of SAS, the same diagnostic triad as Shaken Baby Syndrome is valid, comprising subdural hemorrhages, retinal hemorrhages, and encephalopathy. This syndrome appears to encompass a broad spectrum of pathological conditions, ranging from whiplash to diffuse axonal injury (DAI). At the conclusion of this work, we proposed a diagnostic flowchart that allows for suspected predictive diagnosis of SAS, both in live patients presenting to emergency medical services and in post-mortem cadavers. For this purpose, the collection of anamnesis and circumstantial data, the detection of external injuries, and the execution of cranial CT scans will be essential. Ultimately, microscopic examinations of the brain with specific immunomarkers and of ocular structures will enable the identification of pathognomonic findings for SAS. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop