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Disrupted atrial septum in motor vehicle fatalities
ABSTRACTS
14 THE DEATH OF MOZART - HISTORICAL FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
Dr.D.Ranson, V i c t o r i a n I n s t i t u t e of F o r e n s i c Pa thology 5 7 - 83 Kavanagh S t r e e t , Sout h Melbourne 3205 S p e c u l a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e d e a t h of Mozart i s n o t a new Rumours a s t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s of h i s phenomenon. d e a t h have e x i s t e d f o r n e a r l y two c e n t u r i e s and t h e y have ranged from p o i s o n i n g t o c a r d i a c and r e n a l d i s e a s e t o name b u t a few. Much i n t e r e s t h a s been d i s p l a y e d i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e r e g a r d i n g c o n g e n i t a l malf o r m a t i o n of M o z a r t ' s l e f t e a r and i t s p o s s i b l e a s s o c i a t i o n s wi t h u n d e r l y i n g r e n a l t r a c t a n o m a l i e s a l t h o u g h t h e r e is l i t t l e evi dence t h a t he i n f a c t s u f f e r e d from such a n a t o m i c a l a b n o r m a l i t y of t h e g e n i t o - u r i n a r y t r a c t . More r e c e n t l y a t t e n t i o n h a s been d i r e c t e d a t a s k u l l b e l i e v e d t o be t h a t of Mozart i n r e l a t i o n t o c h r o n i c e x t r a d u r a l haematoma. In t h i s y e a r of t h e b i c e n t e n n i a l of M o z a r t ' s d e a t h , I p r o p o s e t o revi ew some of t h e l i t e r a t u r e r e g a r d i n g t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s of h i s d e a t h and i n d u l g e i n forensic speculation.
DISRUPTED ATRIAL SEPTUM IN MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES. Dr. Slicllcy Robcrtson, Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, 57-83 Kavanagh Strcct. SOUTH MELBOURNE. 3205.
Chest injuries arc commonly sccn in motor vchiclc la tali t ics. Epicardial bruising, vcntricular iaccration and transcction of the aorta arc all well described i n thc literature. Thrcc cases of atrial scptal disruption, a less common injury occurring in fatal motor vcliiclc accidcnts, whcrc large impact forccs wcrc applicd to thc chcst wall, arc presented. I n a l l three cases. thc lorccs appear to have bccn greater than thosc associated with the usual chcst injurics seen i n motor vchiclc fatalities. Prcscntcr:
Dr. S. Robcrtson, Scnior Pathologist, V.I.F.P.
P r e s e n t e r : Dr. David Ranson
A BALLOONING ACCIDENT WIT11 MULTIPLE
FATALITIES
Dr K.A.P. Lee, Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, South Melbourne. Victoria 3205.
WOUND DOCUMENTATION IN CORONIAL AUTOPSIES Dr K.A.P. Lee, Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, South Melbourne , Victoria 3205.
On 13 August 1989 a fully laden commercially operated balloon carrying 12 passengers and a pilot was Involved in a midair collision with another balloon, just north o l Alice Springs. The collision resulted in the balloon sustaining a major tear of the envelope. Rapid deflation of the envelope led to an approxininlcly 600 metre fall to tlie desert floor, with tlie basket partially disinlegrating on impact. With one exception, the occupants were found still within the basket at ihe accident site. Full autopsies wet-eperformed on all occupants. The autopsies rev.ealed a marked similarity i n the injury patt e r ~ Facial ~ ~ . soft tissue and skeletal trauma was severe, associated with anterior third skull base fracture. A hgli incidence of perineal lacerations and pelvic burst fractures were present with relatively few spinal fractutes. An unusual form of brain stein and spinal cord trauma was identified. The injuries sustained to feet, ankles, and legs were of the pattern associated with vertical decelerative fot-ce. The injuiy pattetn is desc1ibe.d and intetpteted with rerercnce to the basket of the balloon and the form of impact.
Considering that a wound is defined as a disruption of continuity of a tissue by physical injury, i t is obvious that for a pathologist involved in Coronial work, defining wounds is part of daily practice. It is a fundamental part of the subject, but as each pathologist feels that they have the correct approach, individual differences can lead to confusion. Wound documentation is of relevance in the majority of Coronial autopsy cases, no more so than in homicide cases. This is because of the sometimes very detailed court room discussions relating to each injury, and the necessity for all persons present to understand fully the nature of the injury. The degree of documentation should be adequate to allow a second pathologist to be put in the shoes of the first pathologist. The autopsy report is discussed in terms of injury definition. style, and nomenclature including differentiation of anteniorteni froni postmortem injuries, as well as complex injuiies. The use of charts, diagrams, tracings, photography, video, and X-rays are each considered.
Presenter - Dr K. Lee, V.1.P.P
Pt.esenter - Dr K. Lee, V.I.F.P.
14 THE DEATH OF MOZART - HISTORICAL FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
Dr.D.Ranson, V i c t o r i a n I n s t i t u t e of F o r e n s i c Pa thology 5 7 - 83 Kavanagh S t r e e t , Sout h Melbourne 3205 S p e c u l a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e d e a t h of Mozart i s n o t a new Rumours a s t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s of h i s phenomenon. d e a t h have e x i s t e d f o r n e a r l y two c e n t u r i e s and t h e y have ranged from p o i s o n i n g t o c a r d i a c and r e n a l d i s e a s e t o name b u t a few. Much i n t e r e s t h a s been d i s p l a y e d i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e r e g a r d i n g c o n g e n i t a l malf o r m a t i o n of M o z a r t ' s l e f t e a r and i t s p o s s i b l e a s s o c i a t i o n s wi t h u n d e r l y i n g r e n a l t r a c t a n o m a l i e s a l t h o u g h t h e r e is l i t t l e evi dence t h a t he i n f a c t s u f f e r e d from such a n a t o m i c a l a b n o r m a l i t y of t h e g e n i t o - u r i n a r y t r a c t . More r e c e n t l y a t t e n t i o n h a s been d i r e c t e d a t a s k u l l b e l i e v e d t o be t h a t of Mozart i n r e l a t i o n t o c h r o n i c e x t r a d u r a l haematoma. In t h i s y e a r of t h e b i c e n t e n n i a l of M o z a r t ' s d e a t h , I p r o p o s e t o revi ew some of t h e l i t e r a t u r e r e g a r d i n g t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s of h i s d e a t h and i n d u l g e i n forensic speculation.
DISRUPTED ATRIAL SEPTUM IN MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES. Dr. Slicllcy Robcrtson, Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, 57-83 Kavanagh Strcct. SOUTH MELBOURNE. 3205.
Chest injuries arc commonly sccn in motor vchiclc la tali t ics. Epicardial bruising, vcntricular iaccration and transcction of the aorta arc all well described i n thc literature. Thrcc cases of atrial scptal disruption, a less common injury occurring in fatal motor vcliiclc accidcnts, whcrc large impact forccs wcrc applicd to thc chcst wall, arc presented. I n a l l three cases. thc lorccs appear to have bccn greater than thosc associated with the usual chcst injurics seen i n motor vchiclc fatalities. Prcscntcr:
Dr. S. Robcrtson, Scnior Pathologist, V.I.F.P.
P r e s e n t e r : Dr. David Ranson
A BALLOONING ACCIDENT WIT11 MULTIPLE
FATALITIES
Dr K.A.P. Lee, Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, South Melbourne. Victoria 3205.
WOUND DOCUMENTATION IN CORONIAL AUTOPSIES Dr K.A.P. Lee, Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, South Melbourne , Victoria 3205.
On 13 August 1989 a fully laden commercially operated balloon carrying 12 passengers and a pilot was Involved in a midair collision with another balloon, just north o l Alice Springs. The collision resulted in the balloon sustaining a major tear of the envelope. Rapid deflation of the envelope led to an approxininlcly 600 metre fall to tlie desert floor, with tlie basket partially disinlegrating on impact. With one exception, the occupants were found still within the basket at ihe accident site. Full autopsies wet-eperformed on all occupants. The autopsies rev.ealed a marked similarity i n the injury patt e r ~ Facial ~ ~ . soft tissue and skeletal trauma was severe, associated with anterior third skull base fracture. A hgli incidence of perineal lacerations and pelvic burst fractures were present with relatively few spinal fractutes. An unusual form of brain stein and spinal cord trauma was identified. The injuries sustained to feet, ankles, and legs were of the pattern associated with vertical decelerative fot-ce. The injuiy pattetn is desc1ibe.d and intetpteted with rerercnce to the basket of the balloon and the form of impact.
Considering that a wound is defined as a disruption of continuity of a tissue by physical injury, i t is obvious that for a pathologist involved in Coronial work, defining wounds is part of daily practice. It is a fundamental part of the subject, but as each pathologist feels that they have the correct approach, individual differences can lead to confusion. Wound documentation is of relevance in the majority of Coronial autopsy cases, no more so than in homicide cases. This is because of the sometimes very detailed court room discussions relating to each injury, and the necessity for all persons present to understand fully the nature of the injury. The degree of documentation should be adequate to allow a second pathologist to be put in the shoes of the first pathologist. The autopsy report is discussed in terms of injury definition. style, and nomenclature including differentiation of anteniorteni froni postmortem injuries, as well as complex injuiies. The use of charts, diagrams, tracings, photography, video, and X-rays are each considered.
Presenter - Dr K. Lee, V.1.P.P
Pt.esenter - Dr K. Lee, V.I.F.P.