Considerations associated with computer forensic facial reconstructions the limits of soft tissues' thickness determination.

UNLABELLED: Revolutionary progresses in computer technology are of great use during forensic investigations in terms of facial identification based on reconstructions. AIM: The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the use and limits of facial reconstruction by considering soft tissues' thickness determination. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors investigated the limits of three methods used for soft tissues' thickness determination on a sample group consisting of 9 cadavers, 30 ultrasound investigations and 27 cranial X-rays. The measurements were performed at standard anthropological landmarks following methods previously described in literature. RESULTS: Measurement values for each soft tissue landmark overlapped between sexes, females having greater soft tissue thickness at two sites: infraorbital and supraorbital notches. US measurements demonstrate a much larger dependence of the soft tissue thickness according to different body posture and imply compressing soft tissues with the transducer. X-rays determinations revealed more accurate values than US, but are nocive to the subjects and can only be performed in standard radiographic positions. For cadavers, different postmortem stages and supine position generated inadequate results. CONCLUSION: In order to increase the degree of accuracy of craniofacial approximation it is necessary to obtain a validated data set specific for the Romanian population. This will allow a better determination of facial measurements opening new perspectives in understanding the relation between physical properties and facial soft tissue.