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Pecorari IL, Agarwal V. Medical malpractice and epidural hematomas: a retrospective analysis of 101 cases in the United States. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024; 86:1873-1880. [PMID: 38576915 PMCID: PMC10990362 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000001581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Neurosurgeons face particularly high rates of litigation compared to physicians in other fields. Malpractice claims are commonly seen after mismanagement of life-threatening medical emergencies, such as epidural haematomas. Due to the lack of legal analysis pertaining to this condition, the aim of this study is to identify risk factors associated with litigation in cases relating to the diagnosis and treatment of epidural haematomas. Materials and methods Westlaw Edge, an online database, was used to analyze malpractice cases related to epidural haematomas between 1986 and 2022. Information regarding plaintiff demographics, defendant specialty, reason for litigation, trial outcomes, and payouts for verdicts and settlements were recorded. Comparative analysis between cases that returned a jury verdict in favour of the plaintiff versus defendant was completed. Results A total of 101 cases were included in the analysis. Failure to diagnose was the most common reason for litigation (n = 64, 63.4%), followed by negligent care resulting in an epidural haematoma (n = 44, 43.6%). Spine surgery (n = 29, 28.7%), trauma (n = 28, 27.7%), and epidural injection/catheter/electrode placement (n = 21, 20.8%) were the primary causes of haematomas. Neurosurgeons (n = 18, 17.8%) and anesthesiologists (n = 17, 16.8%) were the two most common physician specialties cited as defendants. Most cases resulted in a jury verdict in favour of the defense (n = 54, 53.5%). For cases ending in plaintiff verdicts, the average payout was $3 621 590.45, while the average payment for settlements was $2 432 272.73. Conclusion Failure to diagnose epidural haematomas is the most common reason for malpractice litigation, with neurosurgeons and anesthesiologists being the most common physician specialties to be named as defendants. More than half of all cases returned a jury verdict in favour of the defense and, on average, settlements proved to be more cost-effective than plaintiff verdicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella L. Pecorari
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Department of Neurological Surgery Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Vijay Agarwal
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Department of Neurological Surgery Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
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Encarnación-santos D, Rubenovich-chikava D, Pachev M, Bozkurt I, Chmutin G, Chaurasia B. Acute Subdural Hematoma Regarding Glial Cystic Changes– A Case Report and Literature Review.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3967434/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
This report attempts to examine a controversial case of trauma-associated acute subdural hematoma (ASH). In that case, surgical intervention indicates an intraoperative craniectomy with trephine evacuation or, if the patient is eligible, a Decompressive Craniectomy.
Clinical Case Description
A 51-year-old male was referred to our emergency room due to severe dysarthria and left hemiparesis precipitated by a traumatic event to the right frontoparietal region. demonstrated an (ASH) associated with areas of cystic-glial transformation. Confirmed by CT and follow-up.
Conclusion
A case that illustrates and favors surgical intervention for evacuation with priority and recovery by osteoplastic craniotomy as a treatment and approaches to subdural hematoma, hematoma, and postoperative compliance after said procedure.
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Khormali M, Soleimanipour S, Baigi V, Ehteram H, Talari H, Naghdi K, Ghaemi O, Sharif-Alhoseini M. Comparing Predictive Utility of Head Computed Tomography Scan-Based Scoring Systems for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Study. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1145. [PMID: 37626500 PMCID: PMC10452909 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13081145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This study compared the predictive utility of Marshall, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Helsinki, and NeuroImaging Radiological Interpretation System (NIRIS) scorings based on early non-contrast brain computed tomography (CT) scans in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to determine the predictive utility of scoring systems. Subgroup analyses were performed among patients with head AIS scores > 1. A total of 996 patients were included, of whom 786 (78.9%) were males. In-hospital mortality, ICU admission, neurosurgical intervention, and prolonged total hospital length of stay (THLOS) were recorded for 27 (2.7%), 207 (20.8%), 82 (8.2%), and 205 (20.6%) patients, respectively. For predicting in-hospital mortality, all scoring systems had AUROC point estimates above 0.9 and 0.75 among all included patients and patients with head AIS > 1, respectively, without any significant differences. The Marshall and NIRIS scoring systems had higher AUROCs for predicting ICU admission and neurosurgery than the other scoring systems. For predicting THLOS ≥ seven days, although the NIRIS and Marshall scoring systems seemed to have higher AUROC point estimates when all patients were analyzed, five scoring systems performed roughly the same in the head AIS > 1 subgroup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moein Khormali
- Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran; (M.K.); (V.B.); (K.N.)
| | - Saeed Soleimanipour
- Department of Radiology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran;
| | - Vali Baigi
- Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran; (M.K.); (V.B.); (K.N.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran
| | - Hassan Ehteram
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan 87159-88141, Iran;
| | - Hamidreza Talari
- Trauma Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan 87159-88141, Iran;
- Department of Radiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan 87159-88141, Iran
| | - Khatereh Naghdi
- Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran; (M.K.); (V.B.); (K.N.)
| | - Omid Ghaemi
- Department of Radiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran;
- Department of Radiology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran
| | - Mahdi Sharif-Alhoseini
- Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran; (M.K.); (V.B.); (K.N.)
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Novel CT-based parameters assessing relative cross-sectional area to guide surgical management and predict clinical outcomes in patients with acute subdural hematoma. Neuroradiology 2023; 65:489-501. [PMID: 36434311 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-022-03087-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute subdural hematoma (aSDH) is one of the most devastating entities secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even though radiological computed tomography (CT) findings, such as hematoma thickness (HT), midline shift (MLS), and MLS/HT ratio, have an important prognostic role, they suffer from important drawbacks. We hypothesized that relative cross-sectional area (rCSA) of specific brain regions would provide valuable information about brain compression and swelling, thus being a key determining factor governing the clinical course. METHODS We performed an 8-year retrospective analysis of patients with moderate to severe TBI with surgically evacuated, isolated, unilateral aSDH. We investigated the influence of aSDH rCSA and ipsilateral hemisphere rCSA along the supratentorial region on the subsequent operative technique employed for aSDH evacuation and patient's clinical outcomes (early death and Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS] at discharge and after 1-year follow-up). Different conventional radiological variables were also assessed. RESULTS The study included 39 patients. Lower HT, MLS, hematoma volume, and aSDH rCSA showed a significant association with decompressive craniectomy (DC) procedure. Conversely, higher ipsilateral hemisphere rCSA along the dorso-ventral axis and, specifically, ipsilateral hemisphere rCSA at the high convexity level were predictors for DC. CT segmentation analysis exhibited a modest relationship with early death, which was limited to the basal supratentorial subregion, but could not predict long-term outcome. CONCLUSION rCSA is an objectifiable and reliable radiologic parameter available on admission CT that might provide valuable information to optimize surgical treatment.
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de Oliveira DV, Vieira RDCA, Pipek LZ, de Sousa RMC, de Souza CPE, Santana-Santos E, Paiva WS. Long-Term Outcomes in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and Associated Factors: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med 2022; 11:6466. [PMID: 36362693 PMCID: PMC9655294 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11216466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 04/03/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The presence of focal lesion (FL) after a severe traumatic brain injury is an important factor in determining morbidity and mortality. Despite this relevance, few studies show the pattern of recovery of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with FL within one year. The objective of this study was to identify the pattern of recovery, independence to perform activities of daily living (ADL), and factors associated with mortality and unfavorable outcome at six and twelve months after severe TBI with FL. METHODOLOGY This is a prospective cohort, with data collected at admission, hospital discharge, three, six, and twelve months after TBI. RESULTS The study included 131 adults with a mean age of 34.08 years. At twelve months, 39% of the participants died, 80% were functionally independent by the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended, 79% by the Disability Rating Scale, 79% were independent for performing ADLs by the Katz Index, and 53.9% by the Lawton Scale. Report of alcohol intake, sedation time, length of stay in intensive care (ICU LOS), Glasgow Coma Scale, trauma severity indices, hyperglycemia, blood glucose, and infection were associated with death. At six and twelve months, tachypnea, age, ICU LOS, trauma severity indices, respiratory rate, multiple radiographic injuries, and cardiac rate were associated with dependence. CONCLUSIONS Patients have satisfactory functional recovery up to twelve months after trauma, with an accentuated improvement in the first three months. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were associated with post-trauma outcomes. Almost all victims of severe TBI with focal lesions evolved to death or independence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Vieira de Oliveira
- Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 255, Sao Paulo 05403-010, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo Zumerkorn Pipek
- Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 255, Sao Paulo 05403-010, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Wellingson Silva Paiva
- Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 255, Sao Paulo 05403-010, SP, Brazil
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Tanizaki S, Toma Y, Miyashita K, Maeda S. The Characteristics of Withdrawal or Withholding of Life-Sustaining Treatment in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Single Japanese Institutional Study. World Neurosurg X 2022; 17:100144. [PMID: 36353247 PMCID: PMC9637969 DOI: 10.1016/j.wnsx.2022.100144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is little evidence on the factors influencing the decision to withdraw or continue life-sustaining treatment in the setting of severe traumatic brain injury in Japanese institutions. We investigated the factors associated with the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment (WLST) for severe traumatic brain injury at a single Japanese institution. METHODS A total of 161 patients with severe traumatic brain injury were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics and injury types were compared between patients with and without the WLST. RESULTS Of the 161 patients, 87 (54%) died and 52 (32%) decided to undergo WLST. In 98% of the WLST cases, the decision was made within 24 h of admission. The mean duration between WLST and death was 2 days. The predicted probabilities for mortality and unfavorable outcomes were highest in patients with WLST within 24 h. Patients with WLST were older and had a higher frequency of falls on the ground, ischemic heart disease, and acute subdural hemorrhage than those without WLST. CONCLUSIONS The decisions of almost all WLST cases were made within 24 h of admission for severe traumatic brain injury in a Japanese institution because of Japanese patients' religious and cultural backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsuke Tanizaki
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Fukui, Japan,To whom correspondence should be addressed: Shinsuke Tanizaki, M.D.
| | - Yasuo Toma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Fukui, Japan
| | | | - Shigenobu Maeda
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Fukui, Japan
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Astafyeva LI, Sidneva YG, Badmaeva IN, Kalinin PL, Latyshev YA, Marshintsev AV, Valiullina SA. Permanent central diabetes insipidus after traumatic brain injury. Case report and literature review. ZHURNAL VOPROSY NEIROKHIRURGII IMENI N. N. BURDENKO 2022; 86:112-118. [PMID: 36252201 DOI: 10.17116/neiro202286051112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The authors report permanent central diabetes insipidus (CDI) in a patient after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in traffic accident. A 16-year-old boy entered to a medical facility in coma (GCS score 6) with the following diagnosis: acute TBI, severe cerebral contusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage, depressed comminuted cranial vault fracture, basilar skull fracture, visceral contusion. CDI was diagnosed in 3 days after injury considering polyuria and hypernatremia (155 mmol/l). Desmopressin therapy was initiated through a feeding tube. Thirst appeared when a patient came out of the coma after 21 days despite ongoing desmopressin therapy. Considering persistent thirst and polyuria, we continued desmopressin therapy in a spray form. Under this therapy, polyuria reduced to 3-3.5 liters per a day. Symptoms of CDI persisted in long-term period (2 years after TBI) while function of adenohypophysis was intact. This case demonstrates a rare development of permanent diabetes insipidus after TBI. CDI manifested only as polyuria and hypernatremia in coma. Thirst joined after recovery of consciousness. Probable causes of CDI were damage to neurohypophysis and partially injury of pituitary stalk because of extended basilar skull fracture and/or irreversible secondary lesion of hypothalamus following diffuse axonal damage after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yu G Sidneva
- Burdenko Neurosurgical Center, Moscow, Russia
- Research Institute of Emergency Pediatric Surgery and Traumatology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - P L Kalinin
- Burdenko Neurosurgical Center, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - A V Marshintsev
- Research Institute of Emergency Pediatric Surgery and Traumatology, Moscow, Russia
| | - S A Valiullina
- Research Institute of Emergency Pediatric Surgery and Traumatology, Moscow, Russia
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Brazdzionis J, Patchana T, Savla P, Podkovik S, Browne J, Ohno A, Taka TM, Modi A, Wacker MR, Cortez V, Miulli DE. Medical Comorbidities Associated With Outcomes in Patients With Traumatic Epidural Hematomas. Cureus 2021; 13:e15514. [PMID: 34277158 PMCID: PMC8269989 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.15514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a frequently encountered neurosurgical pathology with significant morbidity and mortality. One such subtype is the epidural hematoma. Literature regarding the effects of comorbidities in TBI and epidural hematomas is limited. Methodology This was a single-center retrospective review of 50 consecutive patients admitted to a level two trauma center with epidural hematomas. Patients were identified using an internal trauma database. Patients were included if they were 18 years of age with a diagnosed epidural hematoma. Outcome variables of Glasgow coma scale (GCS), length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital, and requirement of a neurosurgical procedure were analyzed. Identification of the presence of diagnosed comorbidities was performed including common comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, drug use, tobacco use, cancer, psychiatric disease, and renal disease. Correlations were evaluated using two-sided bivariate analysis (p < 0.05). Results A total of 50 patients were included for analysis. Significant correlations with a p-value less of than 0.05 were noted in initial GCS and cancer (r = -0.357, p = 0.011), requirements of an intracranial procedure with a history of gastrointestinal disease (r = 0.377, p = 0.007), and younger age (r = -0.306, p = 0.031). Increased ICU length of stay was related to a history of cancer (r = 0.494, p < 0.001), a history of respiratory disease (r = 0.427, p = 0.002), and a history of psychiatric disease (r = 0.297, p = 0.036). Increased hospital length of stay was related to psychiatric disorders (r = 0.285, p = 0.045). Discharge GCS was negatively associated with a history of hypertension (r = -0.374, p = 0.008), tobacco use (r = -0.417, p = 0.003), drug use (r = -0.294, p = 0.037), and history of cancer (r = -0.303, p = 0.032). Discussion and Conclusions In our 50 consecutive patient subset, selected comorbidities demonstrated significant relationships with outcome measures of GCS, need for a procedure, and lengths of stay in the hospital and ICU. Obtaining comorbidity information when available from families can better allow the clinician to optimize treatment and educate loved ones about the potential effects of these comorbidities on the overall health of the patient. Understanding these correlations may allow for a better understanding of the systemic effects of the pathophysiology of injury in epidural hematomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Brazdzionis
- Neurosurgery, Riverside University Health System Medical Center, Moreno Valley, USA
| | - Tye Patchana
- Neurosurgery, Riverside University Health System Medical Center, Moreno Valley, USA
| | - Paras Savla
- Neurosurgery, Riverside University Health System Medical Center, Moreno Valley, USA
| | - Stacey Podkovik
- Neurosurgery, Riverside University Health System Medical Center, Moreno Valley, USA
| | - Jonathan Browne
- Neurosurgery, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - Ai Ohno
- Neurosurgery, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - Taha M Taka
- Neurosurgery, University of California Riverside, Riverside, USA
| | - Arnav Modi
- Neurosurgery, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | | | - Vladimir Cortez
- Neurosurgery, Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, USA
| | - Dan E Miulli
- Neurosurgery, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA
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Aromatario M, Torsello A, D’Errico S, Bertozzi G, Sessa F, Cipolloni L, Baldari B. Traumatic Epidural and Subdural Hematoma: Epidemiology, Outcome, and Dating. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2021; 57:medicina57020125. [PMID: 33535407 PMCID: PMC7912597 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57020125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Epidural hematomas (EDHs) and subdural hematomas (SDHs), or so-called extra-axial bleedings, are common clinical entities after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A forensic pathologist often analyzes cases of traumatic EDHs or SDHs due to road accidents, suicides, homicides, assaults, domestic or on-the-job accidents, and even in a medical responsibility scenario. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the published data in the medical literature, useful to forensic pathologists. We mainly focused on the data from the last 15 years, and considered the most updated protocols and diagnostic-therapeutic tools. This study reviews the epidemiology, outcome, and dating of extra-axial hematomas in the adult population; studies on the controversial interdural hematoma are also included.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessandra Torsello
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D’Avanzo, Via degli Aviatori 1, 71100 Foggia, Italy; (A.T.); (F.S.); (L.C.)
| | - Stefano D’Errico
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34100 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Bertozzi
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D’Avanzo, Via degli Aviatori 1, 71100 Foggia, Italy; (A.T.); (F.S.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D’Avanzo, Via degli Aviatori 1, 71100 Foggia, Italy; (A.T.); (F.S.); (L.C.)
| | - Luigi Cipolloni
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D’Avanzo, Via degli Aviatori 1, 71100 Foggia, Italy; (A.T.); (F.S.); (L.C.)
| | - Benedetta Baldari
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy;
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