Simulated chainsaw injury bone fracture data

Abstract

Forensic analysis is often required to determine the cause of an injury. Data for this purpose were acquired by simulating an injury to a limb inflicted by a chainsaw. A surrogate forearm was constructed from gel and a bone simulant. A series of 10 arms were severed under different conditions of chainsaw operation, arm position and arm resistance. The bone fracture force was determined from force records acquired with a force plate which supported the test rig holding the arm. A break wire in the arm signalled the time of fracture. The data set constitutes the reaction force registered by the force plate and the break wire signal. Both signals were digitally sampled at 1000 Hz. Photographs of the proximal portion of each severed arm were taken with a digital camera and are included in the data set. This data set is of interest to forensic investigators considering injuries inflicted by power tools. The data provide a benchmark for planning tests of simulated injuries. They can also be compared to experiments carried out on cadaveric specimens to determine the accuracy of such simulations. This article is being submitted as a co-submission with the following article, G.T. Desmoulin, T.E. Milner, Methodology for determining accidental versus intentional injury afflicted by a chainsaw. Forensic Science International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110993.

Keywords: Bone fracture; Chainsaw; Forearm; Laceration.