AUTOPSY

• Most important on pilot, co-pilot, and any other crew members actively involved in operation of the aircraft

• Ideally, all fatally injured aircraft occupants should have autopsies

POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION

• Radiological Studies

• Autopsy

• Toxicological Studies

• Laboratory Studies

• Special Ancillary Studies

AUTOPSY

• Radiological Studies (full body):- Clothed with gear

- Hands and feet

- Head and neck

Note: Re-x-ray as needed

• Conduct on dressed remains– Can usually do within body bags

• Permanent documentation of the skeletal injuries– Extremities usually not dissected

X-Rays

X-rays

•Demonstrate morphology of fractures, which indicates mechanism– Direct blow– Compressive forces– Tension forces– Torsion

• injuries with photography with clothing and equipment as recovered from mishap site

• Repeat photography after clothing and equipment removed

• Documentation of all injuries, not just fatal Complete documentation of external

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

• Positive and pertinent negative findings should be documented

• Prudent to use redundancy in documenting body and scene– Photographs– Diagrams– Videos

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

•Chest, abdominal and cranial cavities and organs–Document injuries–Document natural disease

Soft Tissue Dissection..

• Dissection of soft tissue associated with superficial wounds to document degree of underlying hemorrhage or reveal occult hemorrhage

• Posterior neck and lower back– Follow by laminectomy if indicated

Lower Back Dissection

Posterior Neck Dissection