# Molecular Determinants of Bone Plasticity Regeneration After Trauma: Forensic Consequences

## TL;DR

This paper explores how bone tissue regenerates after trauma and how this knowledge can help forensic scientists analyze skeletal injuries.

## Contribution

The study highlights the forensic potential of molecular mechanisms involved in bone plasticity and regeneration.

## Key findings

- Bone healing involves predictable phases with changes in biomolecules like BMP, VEGF, and MMPs.
- Molecular insights into bone regeneration can aid in forensic analysis of skeletal trauma and injury timing.
- High costs and limited availability hinder the practical use of these mechanisms in forensic settings.

## Abstract

Bone tissue is one of the most remarkable examples of biological plasticity within the human body, with a high regenerative capacity and adaptation following traumatic injuries. This process is conducted through a series of complex and interlinked molecular mechanisms, which will be summarized in this study. The temporal progression of bone healing follows relatively predictable phases, characterized by variation in the concentration and/or activity of biomolecules such as BMP, VEGF, MMPs. The molecular understanding of bone plasticity and regeneration has potentially significant implications in forensic sciences. They were not extensively studied and implemented in practical, forensic environments, mainly due to their high costs and limited availability. However, they have potential uses in areas, such as the interpretation of skeletal trauma, the estimation of the post-traumatic intervals, the postmortem interval, or the differentiation between ante-, peri-, and postmortem injuries to the bone.