# Forensic Analysis of Head Traumas: Can Biomechanics Shed Light?—A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case report explores how biomechanical modeling can help forensic experts understand the causes of head injuries when direct evidence is lacking.

## Contribution

The study introduces a combined multibody and finite element modeling approach to support forensic analysis of head trauma mechanisms.

## Key findings

- Several simulated scenarios matched fracture and stress patterns observed in clinical and autopsy data.
- Biomechanical modeling can help narrow plausible injury mechanisms in forensic investigations.
- Stress magnitudes were generally below injury thresholds, but some scenarios aligned with documented lesions.

## Abstract

Background and Clinical Significance: Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), most frequently caused by falls, represent a major source of morbidity and mortality and pose significant challenges in forensic investigations, especially when events are unwitnessed or testimonies conflict. Despite advances in imaging and autopsy, reconstructing the mechanism of head trauma often remains impossible. The objective of this study is to assess how biomechanical modeling can support forensic practitioners by narrowing the range of plausible scenarios and strengthening evidence-based interpretation in complex medico-legal contexts, without seeking to establish legal causality or certainty. Case Presentation: This case report investigates forensic biomechanics as a decision-support tool using a combined multibody and finite element (FE) modeling approach. An initial set of twenty-five scenarios, derived from witness statements and investigative data, was reconstructed to simulate potential fall- and assault-related mechanisms. Multibody simulations with the human facet model were first performed to estimate head impact velocities and orientations. These parameters were then applied to an FE head model to evaluate tissue response. Conclusions: Skull fracture patterns and intracerebral von Mises stress distributions were analyzed and systematically compared with clinical, radiological, and autopsy findings. Although simulated stress magnitudes were generally lower than injury thresholds reported in the literature, several scenarios reproduced fracture propagation and intracerebral stress patterns consistent with the documented lesions, including corpus callosum involvement. This multidisciplinary approach highlights the growing role of biomechanics in forensic investigations and forensic anthropology.