Forensic Dentistry, Second Edition

94 Forensic dentistry

straightened. It may also be necessary to remove the fingers from the hand

for examination. At this point, photography is advised to capture any ridge

detail that may be present on the fingers. Hardened and loose friction skin

may be twisted off the finger, while epidermal skin that has lifted off the

dermis but is still attached to the hand should be removed using forceps and

curved Metzenbaum scissors for recording purposes.

After the skin has been removed, it should be rinsed with warm water

and, if wrinkled, carefully flattened out prior to printing. If the epidermal

ridges are unprintable, the underside of the epidermis can, in some instances,

be used for recording purposes (Figure 6.7). Recovered prints from the

underside of the epidermis, however, will be in reverse color and position.

This means that ridge color and ridge flow of the recorded print will be the

reverse image of the ridge color and ridge flow of the prints contained on the

antemortem standard. In cases of extreme charring with no visible friction

ridge detail, the boiling technique can be used as a last resort to clean off the

hand and possibly raise ridge detail on the fingers.

6.5.3 Recording Postmortem Impressions

Before attempting to record quality impressions from the friction skin, the
examiner must ensure that the skin is dry. This can be a simple procedure
that involves blotting the hands dry with paper or cloth towels, or in some
instances, where moisture has penetrated deep into the tissue, more intensive

EpidermisDermis

Figure 6.7 Friction ridge detail present on the underside of the epidermis and
surface of the dermal skin.