Evaluation of forensic nazal bone fractures

In forensic injuries, determining the nature of the injury is legally important. For the crime of injury, it is necessary to evaluate whether the injury causes a bone fracture in the body, a permanent scar on the face, a permanent change in the face, a permanent weakening or loss of function in one of the senses or organs. This study aimed to examine cases with nasal bone fractures among trauma cases that were evaluated within the scope of Articles 86, 87 and 89 of the Turkish Criminal Code by the Department of Forensic Medicine at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine from the perspective of forensic medicine. A total of 10523 cases from the period between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed, and nasal bone fractures were detected in 461 cases (4.38%). It was determined that 387 cases (83.9%) were male and 74 cases (16.1%) were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 5.2:1, and they were most frequently observed in the 19-29 age group (n =127, 27.5%). It was found that 384 cases (83.3%) were intentional injuries and 77 cases (16.7%) were negligent injuries, and all intentional injury cases were caused by effective actions (blunt trauma, sharp object injury, firearm injury). Among the negligent injury cases, 66 cases (85.7%) were traffic accidents, 8 cases (10.4%) were occupational accidents, and 3 cases (3.9%) were falls. The data obtained in the study were consistent with the literature. Injuries causing nasal bone fractures should be evaluated in a multidisciplinary manner from the time of trauma onward, considering physical examination, imaging, diagnosis, treatment, and complications. It is thought that comprehensive examination and the availability of medical findings would be beneficial for the clear and unambiguous presentation of medical evidence in forensic evaluation.