Postmortem Interval Assessment Criteria : A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction, Materials and Methods : In this study, an analysis of forensic medical reports was conducted in order to define new criteria for postmortem interval (PMI) assessment, to improve the accuracy of its determination by forensic medical experts. In the study, 2972 forensic medical examinations of corpses were analyzed. The location of the corpse, Degree of fatness, Body length, Age and Histological changes of some internal organs were observed. Dynamometry method was used for Postmortem Interval (PMI) estimation. The results were calculated using Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results : There was a significant moderate correlation of histological changes of some internal organs; weak correlation of corpse location, degree of fatness, body length; and significant very weak correlation of age (p <0.05).