Messerer fracture: a comparison of the prevalence of the Messerer fracture between 1980–1984 and 2016–2020 based on materials from the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków

Gabriela  Szypuła; Gabriela  Kanclerz; Patrycja  Szczepaniak; Maria  Komisarz-Calik; Wojciech  Koziołek; Tomasz  Konopka

Titles

Messerer fracture: a comparison of the prevalence of the Messerer fracture between 1980–1984 and 2016–2020 based on materials from the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków = Złamanie Messerera – porównanie częstości występowania zjawiska w latach 1980–1984 i 2016–2020 w materiale Zakładu Medycyny Sądowej w Krakowie

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of Messerer fractures in the years 1980–1984 and 2016–2020 in the material of the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków and to equate it with the available literature.

Material and methods: Section protocols collected at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków from 1980–1984 and 2016–2020 were investigated. Cases of car-pedestrian traffic accidents were collected and analyzed.

Results: In the 39 cases from 1980–1984, 47 Messerer fractures were present. These reports represented 8.35% of deaths related to car-pedestrian traffic accidents. Among 9 women, Messerer fracture was generally observed in the right femur (41.67%), and the base of the wedge was lateral (41.67%). Whereas among 30 men, it was mainly located in the right femur or tibia (25.71% each). Alcohol was detected among 17 people. While in the 34 postmortem reports from 2016–2020 (15.38% of fatal strikes by a car), 43 Messerer fractures were present. They were usually located in the right tibia (39.5%), then in the right fibula (20.9%) and in the left tibia (14%). The bases of the wedges were mostly lateral (51.2%) and anterior (14%). In contemporary protocols, alcohol was detected among 22 people.

Conclusions: Contrary to the literature data Messerer fractures occur in modern times almost twice as often as in the 80’s. Some differences regarding localization in lower extremities or wedge orientation can be observed.

Keywords

Messerer fracture, Traffic accident, Fracture, Pedestrian victims, Car-pedestrian collision

References

Global status report on road safety 2018. World Health Organization; c2018 [cited 2023 Dec 5]. Available from: http://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565684
Teresiński G. Historia badań w dziedzinie wypadkowości drogowej. Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol. 2001;51(3):249-257.
Teresiński G, Mądro R. The evidential value of wedgeshaped tibial and femoral fractures in cases of car-to-pedestrian collisions. Problems of Forensic Sciences. 1999;40:72-85.
Geserick G, Krocker K, Wirth I. Über den Messerer-Bruch – eine Literaturstudie. Arch Kriminol. 2015;235(5-6):145-65.
Teresiński G. Mechanizmy złamań kości długich. In: Teresiński G, editor. Medycyna sądowa. Warszawa: PZ WL; 2019. p. 444-452.
Berent J. Złamanie Messerera kości łokciowej spowodowane uderzeniem kijem baseballowym. Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol. 1998;48(3/4):233-236.
Bloch-Bogusławska E, Wolska E. Przypadek klinowego złamania obojczyka na skutek uderzenia klamrą pasa obezwładniającego. Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol. 2003;53(2):181-184.
Teresiński G. Odtwarzanie kierunku potrącenia. In: Teresiński G, editor. Medycyna sądowa. Warszawa: PZ WL; 2019. p. 718-727.
Schmidt S, Schulz R, Pfeiffer H, Schmeling A, Geserick G. (2016). On the evidential value of a Messerer fracture sustained in a car-pedestrian traffic accident. Int J Leg Med. 2016;130(6):1593-1597.
Otte D, Haasper C. Characteristics on fractures of tibia and fibula in car impacts to pedestrians and bicyclists – influences of car bumper height and shape. Annu Proc Assoc Adv Automot Med. 2007;51:63-79.
Kobiela J, Jaegermann K. Badanie sekcyjne zwłok ofiar wypadków drogowych. Problemy Kryminalistyki. 1969;78:185-189.
Eid HO, Barss P, Adam SH, Torab FC, Lunsjo K, Grivna M, Abu-Zidan FM. Factors affecting anatomical region of injury, severity, and mortality for road trauma in a high-income developing country: lessons for prevention. Injury. 2009;40(7):703-707.
Ravikanth R, Varghese P. Pattern and distribution of long bone fractures in victims of road traffic accidents in Bangalore city. Indian J Forensic Med Toxicol. 2017;11(1):229-233.
Miao Q, Zhang YL, Yang XA, Miao QF, Zhao WD, Tong F, Lan FC, Li DR. Analysis of pedestrian fractures in collisions between small cars and pedestrians based on surveillance videos. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2022;43(1):11-17.
Dąbrowska-Loranc M. Problemy bezpieczeństwa ruchu drogowego na tle rozwoju motoryzacji w Polsce. Archiwum Motoryzacji. 2000;1:7-16.
Dziedzinowe Bazy Wiedzy – Transport. Warszawa: Główny Urząd Statystyczny; 2023 [cited 2023 Dec 5]. Available from: http://dbw.stat.gov.pl/pl/baza-danych

Information

Information: Problems of Forensic Sciences, 2024, 137, pp. 69 - 79

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.24.005.19861

Article type: Original article

Titles:

English: Messerer fracture: a comparison of the prevalence of the Messerer fracture between 1980–1984 and 2016–2020 based on materials from the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków

Polish: Messerer fracture: a comparison of the prevalence of the Messerer fracture between 1980–1984 and 2016–2020 based on materials from the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków = Złamanie Messerera – porównanie częstości występowania zjawiska w latach 1980–1984 i 2016–2020 w materiale Zakładu Medycyny Sądowej w Krakowie