What Is the Most Accurate Way to Collect Facial Soft Tissue Depth Data?

J Clin Diagn Res. 2015 Sep; 9(nine): ZE26–ZE28.

Forensic Facial Reconstruction: The Concluding Frontier

Sonia Gupta

¹ Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, IDST Higher, Kadrabad, Modinagar, India.

Vineeta Gupta

ⁱⁱ Professor and Head of Department, Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, IDST Higher, Kadrabad, Modinagar, Bharat.

Hitesh Vij

³ Assistant Professor, Division of Oral Pathology, Section of Diagnostic Sciences and Oral Biology, Male monarch Khalid University, Abha Kingdom of Saudi arabia.

Ruchieka Vij

⁴ Reader, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, IDST Higher, Kadrabad, Modinagar, Republic of india.

Nutan Tyagi

⁵ Reader, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, IDST College, Kadrabad, Modinagar, Republic of india.

Received 2015 Apr 22; Revisions requested 2015 Jun 15; Accepted 2015 Aug iii.

Abstract

Forensic facial reconstruction tin be used to identify unknown man remains when other techniques fail. Through this article, we effort to review the dissimilar methods of facial reconstruction reported in literature. There are several techniques of doing facial reconstruction, which vary from two dimensional drawings to three dimensional dirt models. With the advancement in 3D engineering science, a rapid, efficient and cost constructive computerized 3D forensic facial reconstruction method has been developed which has brought down the caste of mistake previously encountered. There are several methods of manual facial reconstruction merely the combination Manchester method has been reported to be the best and almost authentic method for the positive recognition of an individual. Recognition allows the involved government agencies to brand a listing of suspected victims'. This listing can then exist narrowed down and a positive identification may be given by the more than conventional method of forensic medicine. Facial reconstruction allows visual identification by the private's family and associates to become easy and more definite.

Keywords: Combination manchester method, Facial modeling, Forensic fine art, Forensic science

Introduction

If a skull is accidentally recovered from a garden, woods etc, a positive identification will be needed. This is essential not only for legal purposes but as well aids in the family's in overcoming their grief and bring a sense of closure to them. In such cases, where traditional methods of identification like dental records examination, radiography, Deoxyribonucleic acid analysis etc. cannot exist used or have been ineffective due to some bug such as lack of proper information, condition of the remains, cost etc. Forensic facial reconstruction can exist used equally an of import forensic tool which may help in facial recognition of the skull and ultimately lead to positive identification of an individual [1].

Forensic facial reconstruction is a combination of both scientific methods and artistic skill. It can be used to reconstruct the soft tissues onto the skull in order to obtain the image of an individual for his/her recognition and identification [2–4]. Some reviewers considered that forensic facial reconstruction is a method of facial approximation, i.e. various facial patterns tin can be established from the same skull. Other researchers on the other paw felt that each skull can only produce one face and this would hence pb to positive identification of an private, they used the term "Facial Reconstruction" [5].

Forensic facial reconstruction is used in both forensic science and Archaeology. In forensic scientific discipline, this method is used in the identification of an individual where the conventional\usual methods of identification are unsuccessful. In Archaeology, it is used to identify the faces of the people from the past, os remains, embalmed bodies, etc [half dozen].

The face of an individual has several unlike types of exclusive features and thus, is of great importance in identification and recognition of a person. When an unidentified body is constitute, a facial photograph is clicked. This photograph is sometimes digitally candy so that it becomes suitable for the witness to place or for the paper to publish legal which may ultimately leads to identification of the corpse. The victim'southward family, friends/or acquaintance are required to visually place the victim and the simply torso part uncovered for identification is the face. Sometimes, a expressionless body cannot be identified as its face cannot exist recognized due to destruction by animals, concrete attacks or decay caused past environmental factors. Forensic facial reconstruction is an alternative method in the identification process where there is little or no other evidence available [7].

The reconstruction techniques can exist divided into ii types: Two dimensional (2nd) and 3 dimensional (3D) techniques [ane]. They are carried out and analysed either manually or by using specific software (computerized). The 3D manual methods used in forensic facial reconstruction are the Anatomical (Russian), Anthropometrical (American) and Combination Manchester (British) methods which were developed by Gerasimov, Krogman and Neave respectively [2,8,ix].

Discussion

The first facial reconstruction was done past a German anatomist Wilheim His in 1895. He reconstructed the face of German composer Johann Sebastein Bach [2,x]. Welcker, a German physiologist and anatomist documented average tissue depth thickness from studying cadavers, he inserted a small surgical blade into various anthropometric landmarks on the face and so measured the depth of penetration. This is called as "Welcker Facial Reconstruction Technique". Facial reconstruction of Schiller, Kant and Dant was done past Welcker by using the same technique. During the tardily 1880'southward and early on 1890's, Wilheim further modified this technique by inserting a thin sharp needle which had a small piece of rubber on its tip instead of using wider blade. This reduced the amount of tissue baloney and atomic number 82 to more than accurate results. Subsequently in 1946, Wilton Maria Krogmann divers five bones principles to alter the methods of reconstruction of soft tissues of the face i.due east. the relation of eyeball to orbit, the shape of olfactory organ tip, the ear location, the mouth width and the ear length [x].

With the improvement in 3D technology, rapid, efficient and cost-constructive computerized facial reconstruction software was developed. The software imitates the manual method of facial reconstruction. Computerized reconstruction was offset studied at London Higher University in the 1980's where a cranial reconstruction procedure was carried out past using a laser like scanner and video camera. The data was collected and used to build a library of 'Living discipline' facial surfaces [v].

Ii-dimensional reconstruction: This is used to recreate a face from the skull with the use of soft tissue depth estimates. This method was first developed past Karen Taylor in Austin, Texas during the 1980's. This method requires an creative person and a forensic anthropologist to piece of work together on the facial reconstruction and is based on antemortem photographs and the skull which is to exist reconstructed [xi]. This method is likewise used in identification of the deceased from skeletal remains.

Now a days, diverse figurer software programs like CARES^TM or CARES (Computer Assisted Recovery Enhancement System) and FACES (Forensic Anthropology Estimator Enhancement System) etc quickly produce 2D reconstruction which can be edited and manipulated. They piece of work past capturing and digitalizing radiographs, photographs and images of skulls and producing an electronically altered version of the prototype. These programs speed the reconstruction procedure and produce more than generic images [11].

Three-dimensional manual reconstruction: This method too needs both an creative person and a forensic anthropologist. In manual methods, facial reconstruction is done by using clay, plastic or wax directly on the victim's skull or more often a replica of the skull which has to be identified. This method is similar to two dimensional methods as it also requires the use of tissue depth markers of specified lengths to represent different soft tissue depths. The markers are inserted into small holes on the skull cast at specific strategic points or landmarks. In the computerized method, computer software produces reconstruction by using scanned and stock photographs [12].

Methods of Transmission 3D Reconstruction

Anthropometerical American Method/ Tissue Depth Method: This was developed by Krogman in 1946. Through this method, soft tissue depth information is considered. This method was commonly used for reconstruction by law enforcement agencies [x]. Fine measurements were obtained past the use of needles, 10-rays or ultrasound. As facial muscles are recorded in a proper anatomical manner, this method requires highly trained personnel [seven], so this technique is not preferred now a days.
Anatomical Russian Method: This method was adult by Gerasimov in 1971. Here soft tissue depth data was not considered just facial muscles were used in anatomical position. In this method, reconstruction was done by shaping muscles, glands and cartilage onto the skull layer by layer. This technique is not commonly used in these days. This method is much slower than the American method and a greater degree of anatomical knowledge is required. Reconstruction of fossilized skulls accept been accomplished by this method [xiii].
Combination Manchester Method/ British Method: This method was developed by Neave in 1977 and is the most accustomed method for facial reconstruction today. In this technique, both soft tissue thickness and facial muscles are taken into consideration. Once the cranium and mandible are articulated and the skull is mounted on an adjustable stand in the Frankfort Horizontal airplane, facial tissue pegs or markers [Table/Fig-one] are then added on the skull, either by placing them directly on the skull or past inserting them on previously drilled holes on the cast at 90 degree using a 3mm drill bit [8]. Each peg length represents the hateful tissue depth at the anatomical point. The facial tissue depth is adamant by the age, gender, build etc. of the private. The muscles of mastication and facial expression are constructed out of the modeling fabric and positioned on the basis of their origin and insertion on the skull. The shape and size of diverse muscles are adamant on the basis of the underlying hard tissues. Plaster or prosthetic plastic eye assurance of 25mm diameter are placed into the orbits. The prosthetic centre balls are positioned in the orbit in such a way and then that a tangent taken from the mid supraorbital margin to the mid infraorbital margins touches the iris. The inner canthus are placed 2mm lateral to the lacrimal crest and the outer canthus are placed 4mm medial to the malar tubercle. When the malar tubercles are absent, the outer canthus is placed 10mm below the line of frontozygomatic suture and five-7mm from the orbital margin [one]. The maximum width of the nose is determined by the bony nasal aperture at its widest point as three-fifths of the overall width of the soft nose. The profile of the olfactory organ and the shape and the size of the alae are adamant by the nasal aperture. The maxillary canine and starting time premolar are placed near the corners of mouth and width of the mouth corresponds to six anterior teeth. The thickness of lips is determined past upper and lower inductive teeth [12]. The length of the ear is predicted by the length of the nose and the ear culvert is positioned by using external auditory meatus equally the reference point. Muscles of the face are usually modelled on the skull which is to be reconstructed in clay one by 1, then a layer of clay is added over the musculature to stand for the skin, subcutaneous fats and strips of dirt are and so rolled, shaped and added over the muscle/fat structure to create the finished face by maintaining the length of the pegs as a guide to the last tissue guides over the face up [seven].

Photo showing tissue-pegs attached to the surface of the skull at the anatomical landmarks [1]
Computerized 3D Forensic Facial Reconstruction: With the advancement in 3D engineering science, a fast, efficient and cost effective computer aided forensic facial reconstruction method was developed. In this method, the operator used 3D computerized models using manual clay model techniques. Some computerized systems used 3D animation software (Costless Grade Modelling Plus^TM; Sensable Technologies, Wilmington MA) to model the face up onto the skull while other organization used virtual sculpture system with Haptic feedback (Phantom Desktop^TM Haptic Device; Sensable Technologies). Haptic feedback system has the ability to feel the surface of the skull during analysis and also provide important skeletal details for facial reconstruction such as musculus attachment strength, position of eye, position of malar tubercle etc. This organization though requires both anthropological and computer modelling skills. Information technology decreases practitioner's subjectivity and skill. This method also creates multiple images of the aforementioned face up rapidly and efficiently [six,11,14,15].

Conclusion

Forensic facial reconstruction is a rapid, non-invasive and efficient method where reconstruction can be repeated at whatever time if required. This technique is not only used for identification of individuals from skeletal remains but is also used for archaeological research purposes. Visual identification past the individual's family and associates thus becomes like shooting fish in a barrel and more defined. For the classical manual technique, diverse methods are used but the Combination Manchester Method was constitute to be the best and most accurate method for the positive identification of an individual. The manual methods on the other hand are labour intensive. Computerized forensic facial reconstruction can also mimic the manual method of facial reconstruction. Computerized remodeling of missing individual is likewise significantly easier every bit compared to the manual method and as well decreases practitioner training.

Notes

Financial or Other Competing Interests

None.

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Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4606364/