Forensic facial reconstruction may be the final option available to draw the public attention in cases where the identity of an individual cannot be established by standard identification methods. Two fundamental components of all forensic facial reconstruction techniques are cranial morphology and soft tissue depths databases. The purpose of this study was to extend such databases by providing a complete set of accurate facial soft tissue thickness measurements, acquired from a contemporary adult population from Germany, for use in forensic facial reconstruction. The aims were to measure the distance between well-defined landmarks on the skull and reference points on the face in a standardised manner, to analyse how sex, age and body mass index (BMI) influence facial soft tissue depths, to identify patterns of facial asymmetry, and to conduct a comparative analysis with other populations. The material for this study consisted of 320 (160 male, 160 female) anonymised multi-slice computerised tomography (MSCT) scans of individuals drawn from a German population. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 84 years were analysed. Their statures varied between 1.50 m and 1.96 m; their weights ranged between 40 kg and 145 kg. The BMI fluctuated between 16.6 kg/m2 and 45.8 kg/m2. Patients with severe trauma or pathologies that may compromise facial soft tissue depth were excluded from the study as were patients known to have been treated with specific medication (e.g. cortisone). In Amira®, 3D models of the surfaces of the skull and the facial skin were semi-automatically segmented using previously calculated thresholds and surface extraction algorithms. The parameters were adjusted to permit semi-transparent visualisation and examination of the structures of both the 3D skull and facial skin surface models simultaneously. Facial soft tissue depth was measured at 10 midline and 28 bilateral anatomical landmarks, according to the main orientations of the skull. Statistical analyses and tests were performed with SPSS® Version 22 and TDStats Version v2015.1. The analysis of facial soft tissue thickness versus BMI, sex and age, for each landmark separately, indicated that, at a number of the landmarks, facial soft tissue depth is significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by all three biometric variables. Facial soft tissue thickness increased with increasing BMI, but the correlations with age were insignificant. The differences between males and females were statistically significant (p < 0.05) for almost all anatomical landmarks with the exception of a few in the region of the nasal root and orbitals. Asymmetry was noted at over half of the bilateral landmarks. The differences between the results from this sample and those obtained from comparable databases contradict the hypothesis that population-specificity significantly influences facial soft tissue thickness. Nevertheless, this and future studies of craniofacial soft tissues will improve our knowledge of the complexity of the human face. The information gathered will be invaluable when considering forensic facial reconstruction methods for neighbouring populations.

A técnica auxiliar de identificação conhecida como Reconstrução Facial possibilita a obtenção de uma face a partir da modelagem dos contornos dos tecidos sobre o crânio esqueletizado, aumentando as possibilidades de reconhecimento. A confiabilidade desta técnica depende da avaliação das medidas da espessura observadas para os tecidos moles que recobrem crânio. Essas medidas foram avaliadas numa amostra de cadáveres autopsiada na Seção Técnica de Verificação de Óbitos em Guarulhos, São Paulo. Mensurou-se a espessura manualmente usando a técnica de punção em 10 pontos craniométricos localizados na linha média e 11 pontos bilaterais, numa amostra de 40 cadáveres de ambos os sexos com idades entre 17 e 90 anos, classificados também quanto à cor da pele e ao estado nutricional. Os resultados obtidos para os valores médios, em milímetros, nos pontos medianos para o sexo masculino (n=26) e feminino (n=14) foram: Supraglabela 5,01/4,37; Glabela 5,58/4,66; Nasion 5,90/5,09; Rinio 5,21/4,29; Philtrum Médio 10,60/7,73; Supradentale 9,10/8,74; Infradentale 10,62/9,42; Supramentale 11,00/9,16; Eminência mentoniana 10,64/9,40; Menton 10,40/8,78 e nos pontos bilaterais: Eminência Frontal 4,95/3,98; Supraorbital 6,99/5,84; Suborbital 6,56/6,01; Malar inferior 11,25/10,00; Lateral da órbita 9,10/9,23; Arco Zigomático 9,28/8,88; Supraglenóide 11,61/10,82; Gonion 12,71/10,97; Supra M2 16,41/14,43; Linha oclusal 14,40/11,71 e Sub M2 14,60/11,32. Foi calculada a estatística descritiva, aplicando-se na comparação dos dados o Teste t-Student, ANOVA e Teste Tukey. Os resultados, quando comparados a estudos realizados em outras populações demonstram diferenças na amostra estudada, havendo a necessidade da utilização de uma tabela com valores obtidos na nossa população para a aplicação nas técnicas de reconstrução facial em crânios sem identidade atribuível. / The auxiliary technique of identification known as Facial Reconstruction makes possible to obtain a face identification from the contours of the tissue around the skull, increasing the probabilities of recognition. The reliability of this technique depends on the evaluation of the thickness of the soft tissues that cover the skull. Those measurements were evaluated on a sample of studied cadavers in STVO - Guarulhos (“Seção Técnica de Verificação de Óbitos"), São Paulo, state Brazil. The thickness has been manually measured using the needle puncture technique in 10 anatomical landmarks of the skull located in the midleline and in 11 bilateral points of 40 cadavers of both sexes, aged between 17 and 90 years, classified by skin color and nutritional state. The average results (mm), of the median points for males (n=26) and females (n=14) were: Supraglabella 5,01/4,37; Glabella 5,58/4,66; Nasion 5,90/5,09; Rhinion (end of nasal bone) 5,21/4,29; Mid-philtrum 10,60/7,73; Supradentale (upper lip margin) 9,10/8,74; Infradentale (lower lip margin) 10,62/9,42; Supramentale 11,00/9,16; Mental eminence 10,64/9,40; Menton 10,40/8,78 and of bilateral points: Frontal eminence 4,95/3,98; Supraorbital 6,99/5,84; Suborbital 6,56/6,01; Inferior malar 11,25/10,00; Lateral orbit 9,10/9,23; Zygomatic arch 9,28/8,88; Supraglenoid 11,61/10,82; Gonion 12,71/10,97; Supra M2 (maxilla)16,41/14,43; Occlusal line 14,40/11,71 e Sub M2 (mandible) 14,60/11,32. Descriptive statistics calculations were made accordingly to T-tests, ANOVA and Tukey tests. Those calculations, when compared with other populations studies, showed different results, that lead to the need of using a specific table with values of the local population to implement the technique of facial reconstruction in skulls without an attributable identity.

Reconstrução facial forense é uma técnica utilizada com a finalidade de reconhecimento e posterior identificação, nas situações em que inexiste uma identidade atribuível ao esqueleto submetido à perícia médico-legal. Objetivou-se neste estudo mensurar as espessuras de tecidos moles que recobrem a face em cadáveres que deram entrada no Instituto Médico Legal (IML) de Guarulhos no período de setembro de 2010 a setembro de 2011. Foram efetuadas mensurações de 49 pontos anatômicos da face em cadáveres com menos de 24 horas do óbito; tais mensurações foram analisadas por meio do teste t com p bicaudal. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da FOUSP (protocolo 144/2010). Um total de 100 cadáveres foi estudado, sendo 64 do sexo masculino e 26 do sexo feminino. Eles pertenciam majoritariamente à faixa etária de 41 a 60 anos. Optou-se por utilizar nomenclatura em língua inglesa com a finalidade de facilitar comparações com trabalhos internacionais. Dos 49 marcos mensurados, apenas cinco apresentaram um p menor que 0,05, ou seja, para os seguintes pontos as medidas entre homens e mulheres não são as mesmas quando comparadas em relação ao sexo: upper lip margin (p=0,006), superior labius sulcus (p=0,006), stomion (p=o,001), lateral orbits direito (p=0,008) e chelion esquerdo (p=0,009). Os pontos anatômicos analisados permitiram estabelecer parâmetros mais precisos de espessuras faciais aplicáveis na reconstrução facial de cadáveres da população brasileira. Além disso, os marcos anatômicos analisados permitiram a construção de uma tabela com finalidade de reconstrução facial forense. / Forensic facial reconstruction is a technique that has the aim of recognition and identification, in situations in which a known identity of the sketelon submetted to medico-legal procedures is not available. The objective of the study was to study the soft tissue thicknesses that cover the face of autopsied corpses that were sent to Guarulho´s Medical-Legal Institute from September 2010 to September 2011. Measurements of 49 anatomic references were performed in the face of corpses with less than 24 hours of death; data were analysed using t test with bicaudal p. The project was approved by the University of São Paulo´s School of Dentistry Ethics Committee (protocol number 144/2010). One hundred corpses were studied, being 64 male and 26 female. They were mainly 41 to 60 years old. Among all the 49 studied anatomic references, just five presented a p value lower than 0.05, that is, these references showed differences between sex: upper lip margin (p=0.006), superior labius sulcus (p=0.006), stomion (p=0,001), right lateral orbits (p=0.008) and left chelion (p=0.009). The studied anatomic references allowed to establish more precise parameters of the faces thicknesses that can be applied in corpses facial reconstructions in the Brazilian population, and some anatomic references presented a higher discriminant Power with regard to sex. Furthermore, the anatomic landmarks offered information to a reference table with the objective of forensic facial reconstruction.

Reconstrução facial forense é uma técnica utilizada com a finalidade de reconhecimento e posterior identificação, nas situações em que inexiste uma identidade atribuível ao esqueleto submetido à perícia médico-legal. Objetivou-se neste estudo mensurar as espessuras de tecidos moles que recobrem a face em cadáveres que deram entrada no Instituto Médico Legal (IML) de Guarulhos no período de setembro de 2010 a setembro de 2011. Foram efetuadas mensurações de 49 pontos anatômicos da face em cadáveres com menos de 24 horas do óbito; tais mensurações foram analisadas por meio do teste t com p bicaudal. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da FOUSP (protocolo 144/2010). Um total de 100 cadáveres foi estudado, sendo 64 do sexo masculino e 26 do sexo feminino. Eles pertenciam majoritariamente à faixa etária de 41 a 60 anos. Optou-se por utilizar nomenclatura em língua inglesa com a finalidade de facilitar comparações com trabalhos internacionais. Dos 49 marcos mensurados, apenas cinco apresentaram um p menor que 0,05, ou seja, para os seguintes pontos as medidas entre homens e mulheres não são as mesmas quando comparadas em relação ao sexo: upper lip margin (p=0,006), superior labius sulcus (p=0,006), stomion (p=o,001), lateral orbits direito (p=0,008) e chelion esquerdo (p=0,009). Os pontos anatômicos analisados permitiram estabelecer parâmetros mais precisos de espessuras faciais aplicáveis na reconstrução facial de cadáveres da população brasileira. Além disso, os marcos anatômicos analisados permitiram a construção de uma tabela com finalidade de reconstrução facial forense. / Forensic facial reconstruction is a technique that has the aim of recognition and identification, in situations in which a known identity of the sketelon submetted to medico-legal procedures is not available. The objective of the study was to study the soft tissue thicknesses that cover the face of autopsied corpses that were sent to Guarulho´s Medical-Legal Institute from September 2010 to September 2011. Measurements of 49 anatomic references were performed in the face of corpses with less than 24 hours of death; data were analysed using t test with bicaudal p. The project was approved by the University of São Paulo´s School of Dentistry Ethics Committee (protocol number 144/2010). One hundred corpses were studied, being 64 male and 26 female. They were mainly 41 to 60 years old. Among all the 49 studied anatomic references, just five presented a p value lower than 0.05, that is, these references showed differences between sex: upper lip margin (p=0.006), superior labius sulcus (p=0.006), stomion (p=0,001), right lateral orbits (p=0.008) and left chelion (p=0.009). The studied anatomic references allowed to establish more precise parameters of the faces thicknesses that can be applied in corpses facial reconstructions in the Brazilian population, and some anatomic references presented a higher discriminant Power with regard to sex. Furthermore, the anatomic landmarks offered information to a reference table with the objective of forensic facial reconstruction.

A técnica auxiliar de identificação conhecida como Reconstrução Facial possibilita a obtenção de uma face a partir da modelagem dos contornos dos tecidos sobre o crânio esqueletizado, aumentando as possibilidades de reconhecimento. A confiabilidade desta técnica depende da avaliação das medidas da espessura observadas para os tecidos moles que recobrem crânio. Essas medidas foram avaliadas numa amostra de cadáveres autopsiada na Seção Técnica de Verificação de Óbitos em Guarulhos, São Paulo. Mensurou-se a espessura manualmente usando a técnica de punção em 10 pontos craniométricos localizados na linha média e 11 pontos bilaterais, numa amostra de 40 cadáveres de ambos os sexos com idades entre 17 e 90 anos, classificados também quanto à cor da pele e ao estado nutricional. Os resultados obtidos para os valores médios, em milímetros, nos pontos medianos para o sexo masculino (n=26) e feminino (n=14) foram: Supraglabela 5,01/4,37; Glabela 5,58/4,66; Nasion 5,90/5,09; Rinio 5,21/4,29; Philtrum Médio 10,60/7,73; Supradentale 9,10/8,74; Infradentale 10,62/9,42; Supramentale 11,00/9,16; Eminência mentoniana 10,64/9,40; Menton 10,40/8,78 e nos pontos bilaterais: Eminência Frontal 4,95/3,98; Supraorbital 6,99/5,84; Suborbital 6,56/6,01; Malar inferior 11,25/10,00; Lateral da órbita 9,10/9,23; Arco Zigomático 9,28/8,88; Supraglenóide 11,61/10,82; Gonion 12,71/10,97; Supra M2 16,41/14,43; Linha oclusal 14,40/11,71 e Sub M2 14,60/11,32. Foi calculada a estatística descritiva, aplicando-se na comparação dos dados o Teste t-Student, ANOVA e Teste Tukey. Os resultados, quando comparados a estudos realizados em outras populações demonstram diferenças na amostra estudada, havendo a necessidade da utilização de uma tabela com valores obtidos na nossa população para a aplicação nas técnicas de reconstrução facial em crânios sem identidade atribuível. / The auxiliary technique of identification known as Facial Reconstruction makes possible to obtain a face identification from the contours of the tissue around the skull, increasing the probabilities of recognition. The reliability of this technique depends on the evaluation of the thickness of the soft tissues that cover the skull. Those measurements were evaluated on a sample of studied cadavers in STVO - Guarulhos (“Seção Técnica de Verificação de Óbitos”), São Paulo, state Brazil. The thickness has been manually measured using the needle puncture technique in 10 anatomical landmarks of the skull located in the midleline and in 11 bilateral points of 40 cadavers of both sexes, aged between 17 and 90 years, classified by skin color and nutritional state. The average results (mm), of the median points for males (n=26) and females (n=14) were: Supraglabella 5,01/4,37; Glabella 5,58/4,66; Nasion 5,90/5,09; Rhinion (end of nasal bone) 5,21/4,29; Mid-philtrum 10,60/7,73; Supradentale (upper lip margin) 9,10/8,74; Infradentale (lower lip margin) 10,62/9,42; Supramentale 11,00/9,16; Mental eminence 10,64/9,40; Menton 10,40/8,78 and of bilateral points: Frontal eminence 4,95/3,98; Supraorbital 6,99/5,84; Suborbital 6,56/6,01; Inferior malar 11,25/10,00; Lateral orbit 9,10/9,23; Zygomatic arch 9,28/8,88; Supraglenoid 11,61/10,82; Gonion 12,71/10,97; Supra M2 (maxilla)16,41/14,43; Occlusal line 14,40/11,71 e Sub M2 (mandible) 14,60/11,32. Descriptive statistics calculations were made accordingly to T-tests, ANOVA and Tukey tests. Those calculations, when compared with other populations studies, showed different results, that lead to the need of using a specific table with values of the local population to implement the technique of facial reconstruction in skulls without an attributable identity.

In forensic science one frequently has to deal with unidentified skeletonised remains. When conventional methods of identification have proven unsuccessful, forensic facial reconstruction (FFR) may be used, often as a last resort, to assist the process. FFR relies on the relationships between the facial features, subcutaneous soft tissues and underlying bony structure of the skull. The aim of this study was to develop soft tissue thickness (STT) values for South African black females for application to FFR, to compare these values to existing literature or databases, and to test the accuracy and recognisability of reconstructions using these values. It also established whether population-specific STT values are necessary for FRR. Computerised tomography scanning was used to determine average populationspecific STT values at 28 facial landmarks of 154 black females. The Manchester method of facial reconstruction was employed to build faces, for which antemortem photographs were available, on two skulls that were provided by the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Forensic Science Laboratory. Different data sets of STT values, namely values from this study, two sets of data from American blacks and a South African mixed ancestry group, were used to build four faces for each of the skulls. Two identification sessions were then held. In the first session, 30 observers were asked to select matches from a random group of 20 photographs of black females which included the two actual images. The identification rates calculated for each photograph revealed that the highest rates of a positive match were for the reconstructions based on South African values. In the second session another group of 30 volunteers were asked to match to each photograph the most similar of the four reconstructions made of that particular individual. The reconstructions with STT values from the current (South African) study were selected more often than the other data sets. Although shortcomings do exist, the identification sessions indicated that FFR can be of value. Furthermore, population-specific STT values are important, since skulls reconstructed using these values were selected or identified statistically significantly more often than the others. AFRIKAANS : In forensiese wetenskap het mens dikwels te doen met ongeïdentifiseerde skeletmateriaal. Wanneer die konvensionele metodes van identifikasie onsuksesvol is, mag forensiese gesigsrekonstruksie (FGR) gebruik word, dikwels as `n laaste uitweg, om die proses te help. FGR is afhanklik van die verhouding tussen die gelaatstrekke, subkutane sagte weefsels en onderliggende benige struktuur van die skedel. Die doel van hierdie studie was om sagte weefsel dikte (SWD) waardes vir Suid-Afrikaanse swart vroue te ontwikkel vir gebruik met FGR, om hierdie waardes te vergelyk met bestaande literatuur of databasisse, en die akkuraatheid en herkenbaarheid van rekonstruksies waar hierdie waardes gebruik was te toets. Dit is gedoen ten einde vas te stel of bevolking-spesifieke SWD waardes nodig is vir FGR. Gerekenariseerde tomografie skandering is gebruik om die gemiddelde bevolkingspesifieke SWD waardes op 28 gesigslandmerke van 154 swart vroue te bepaal. Die Manchester metode van gesigsrekonstruksie is gebruik om twee skedels, waarvan antemortem foto’s beskikbaar was en wat voorsien is deur die Suid Afrikaanse Polisie Diens (SAPD) se Forensiese Wetenskap Laboratorium, op te bou. Verskeie data stelle vir SWD waardes, naamlik waardes verkry in hierdie studie, twee stelle Amerikaanse waardes vir swart vroue en `n Suid Afrikaanse groep van gemengde afkoms, is vir hierdie studie gebruik om vier gesigte van elk van die skedels te bou. Twee identifikasie sessies is gehou. In die eerste sessie is 30 deelnemers gevra om passende foto’s uit `n algemene versameling van 20 foto’s van swart vroue te kies. Dit het die twee ware gesigte ingesluit. Die identifikasie waardes wat bereken is vir elke foto het getoon dat die hoogste waardes vir die werklike foto’s verkry is op rekonstruksies gebasseer op Suid-Afrikaanse waardes. In die tweede sessie was `n ander groep van 30 vrywillgers gevra om die mees soortgelyke van die vier rekonstruksies by die foto van die betrokke individu te pas. Die rekonstruksies met SWD waardes van die huidige (Suid Afrikaanse) studie was meer dikwels gekies as die van ander data stelle. Hoewel verskeie tekortkominge bestaan, het die identifikasie sessies getoon dat FGR van waarde kan wees. Verder is bevolking-spesifieke SWD waardes belangrik, aangesien skedels wat opgebou is met hierdie waardes statisties beduidend meer dikwels gekies of geïdentifiseer is as die ander. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Anatomy / unrestricted