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Visual, stereomicroscopic and histological analysis of 216 fractures of ribs extracted from 83 dead bodies was carried out during forensic examination in cases of blunt trauma of chest in 58 male and 25 female. It was revealed that modifications of rib fragments, determined with fractometrical method in the zone of contact (trasses, rubbings, polishings) can be used for forensic diagnostic of prescription of ribs fractures. There were revealed characteristic properties of sphacelous, inflammatory and regenerative processes in the zone of ribs fractures which consist in the fact that hemolysis of red blood cells, leucocyte and macrophagal reaction, sphacelous modifications of tissues, formation of granulation tissue are developing faster and proliferation of fibroblasts becomes later than in impairments of other localizations and types. The complex use offractometrical and histological methods increase accuracy and objectiveness offorensic diagnostic of prescription of mechanical trauma of chest.

The authors describe the biotribological process, disclose mechanisms and time course of morphological changes in fractured bones as exemplified by interactions between the ends of fragments in an extension fracture of a rib. These changes result from contacts between fragments due to persistent respiration and parallel processes closely connected, friction and repair regeneration. The data on mechanisms and time course of morphological changes in a fractured bone may prove useful not only for forensic medicine specialists, but for traumatologists as well.

The author analyzes the kinematics of fractured rib fragment movements from the thoracic excursion position and in relation to orthogonal coordinates. A scheme of stages in changes of fractured rib morphology in a biotribologic system at intact respiration has been developed. Staged pattern and order of changes of the initial morphologic characteristics of fractured ribs and acquisition of new properties by them is demonstrated which may be regarded as expert diagnostic criteria to assess their life-time or postmortem appearance.

A scheme of the thoracic skeleton (a superior projection) is suggested for practical forensic medical evaluation. The scheme presents concentrically arranged costal arches connected to the image of the breast bone and the thoracic portion of the spine, with the ordinal numbers of the ribs, vertebrae, and anatomic lines. Special marks indicate rib fractures and other associated signs (repeated injuries, bleedings, whether the injury was inflicted in life or was postmortem, etc.). After the scheme is filled in, one may analyze a three-dimensional image of the injuries to determine the site and direction of an external exposure and its order.

The article deals with study of some patterns of long spongy rib bone destruction in static and dynamic load of thorax. Model of bone destruction is suggested. Multiple microfissures preceding formation of complete bone destruction were detected in border areas with fracture. They have peculiar mosaic depending on load conditions. Microfissure localization in relation to osteon structure of rib cortical lamina was stated. The results of investigations may have theoretical and applied value both in medicolegal and clinical traumatology.

Mechanisms of occurrence of thoracic lesions as well as characteristic features of repeated rib trauma in children with repeated blunt trauma were studied. Experimental data were compared with expert observations. It was stated that morphological features of repeated rib trauma in children are localized within the limits of substantia compacta or its superficial layers. There is also possibility for straightening primary incomplete fracture in repeated exposure and for forming secondary fracture, which depends on the type of force applied, its application area and direction of force action.

The paper deals with differential diagnosis of an external exposure (blow, compression) from rib fractures in chest trauma. New informative parameters of bone microdestruction in fracture zones which may serve as expert criteria for conditions of their formation are proposed. Registration of microfissures in thickness of rib compact plates and spongy substance on both sides of the basic fracture, their character, direction and original mosaic makes it possible to determine the type of an external exposure blow, compression) with high accuracy.

Comparative characteristic of thoracic injuries in children and adults due to compression gives evidence that value of ultimate rib strain when rib lesion occur is diminishing with age. Therefore the chest in adults (as compared to children) is more heavily injured in case of compression. For all this the character and localization of injuries depend on value of operating loads and make it possible to determine common mechanisms of thoracic frame deformations.