Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
of trauma, such as “sharp-blunt trauma” or “blunt-ballistic trauma.” By focusing on the
biomechanics behind the trauma, the need for the creation of new trauma categories is
eliminated.
Instead, skeletal trauma is best viewed biomechanically and conceptualized as
a continuum, rather than as a series of discrete categories. This continuum is governed by
a series of variables relating to the intrinsic properties of bone and the extrinsic characteristics
of the force applied. The key extrinsic factors are (1) force of the impact, (2) surface area of the
impacting interface, and (3) the acceleration/deceleration rate. The goal of research into skel-
etal trauma in biological anthropology should be in part to tease out the different interactions
between these variables, as well as insight into the intrinsic properties of bone to understand
how the injuries truly occur.
SKELETAL TRAUMA AS A COMPONENT
OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH
As mentioned earlier, there are numerous avenues and modalities of research into skel-
etal trauma in biological anthropology. The two most widely used methods are clinical or
case-based analysis research and experimental research. As with all areas of research there
are both pros and cons to each research modality, and each modality is best utilized for
examining certain types of questions. When selecting the best modality, it is critical to
(1) clearly define the question being asked, (2) assess which variables need to be addressed
to appropriately answer the research question, and (3) honestly evaluate the available
resources. For example, if the research question demands a high level of experimental
impact testing, but there are no resources or funding available, it is better to try to redesign
the hypothesis to accommodate a different research modality than to try to conduct subop-
timal research on the original question. Both the areas of case-based research and experi-
mental research will be explored and described in the following, and descriptive case
studies will be explored.
CASE-BASED ANALYSIS
Research involving case-based analysis is an important aspect of skeletal trauma
research as a whole. In fact, it is often the case that this type of research serves to function
as the “seed” research for further experimental testing down the road. For example, if
a forensic anthropologist notices a trend in the fracture patterns observed in gunshot
wounds to the head, it may spur them to do first a case-based review of their past cases
(as well as cases from other colleagues) to elaborate on the observed trend, then secondly
to expand and refine the research hypothesis to include an experimental-based design to
test out the original idea.
Case-based trauma research is best suited for either investigating trends among a group or
population or looking at characteristics of known injuries. It is a given constraint that case-
based research is always a retrospective approach, meaning that you will always be looking
at the fracture pattern as the result of an injury that has already occurred.
