Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this workshop has been cancelled.

The presentation of cranio-facial injury patterns following assault and trauma may vary from simple bruising of the facial tissue, fractures to teeth, a damaged frenulum and split lips, to more severe and life-threatening fractures of the mandible, maxilla and cranial complex. Increasingly, the expert opinion of the Forensic Medical Officer, Pathologist, Odontologist and Anthropologist is being sought in the compilation of a forensic report to accurately describe, document and interpret such injury patterns. Typical questions might be:

• What common mechanisms of cranio-facial injury are seen?
• What are the differences between an abrasion, a bruise and an incision?
• How may a bruise track through the cranio-facial fascias?
• What constitutes the Le Forte fracture classification?
• How is a complex fracture of the middle third of the face most accurately described?

The presentation of such reports into the legal arena means that the report and thus the forensic practitioner is open to cross-examination and detailed scrutiny. This workshop is aimed at the forensic practitioner involved in the interpretation of cranio-facial injuries and the preparation of expert reports. The description of injury patterns, their documentation and interpretation will be discussed by forensic physicians, forensic odontologists and oral and plastic surgeons

Participants will be expected to submit an expert opinion report during the workshop and are encouraged to bring previously submitted reports for discussion.