The Incidence of Dental Identifications from Mass Graves in Croatia

U ovome radu prikazani su rezultati i postupci dentalnih identifikacija na 523 trupla ekshumiranih do lipnja godine 1996. Postupak identifikacije bio je proveden u Zavodu za sudsku medicinu i kriminalistiku Medicinskog fakulteta u Zagrebu. Forenzički stomatolog sudjelovao je u postupku identificiranja na temelju raščlambe zubala. Sva orodentalna obilježja pomno su se obilježila u Interpolove obrasce za unos poslijesmrtnih dentalnih obilježja te u računalni program CAPMI 4. Forenzička raščlamba genomske i mitohondrijske DNA, koja se temelji na postupku lančane reakcije polimeraze (PCR), provedena je na uzorcima iz stanica zubnih tkiva u onim slučajevima kada su ostali tradicionalni forenzički postupci bili nedostatni i neuspješni. Do mjeseca lipnja godine 1996. u Republici je Hrvatskoj ekshumirano 523 trupla ubijenih ljudi : 412 muškaraca (78,77%) i 111 žena (21,23%). Ukupno je bilo identificirano 381 truplo (72,84%), a 142 trupla (27,16%) ostala su neidentificirana. Zubna identifikacija temeljena na poznatim prijesmrtnim dentalnim obilježjima postignuta je u 23,88% slučajeva. Najviše je identifikacija postignuto na temelju usporedbe sa zubnim kartama (35%), rendgenske snimke pomogle su i indentifikaciji 15% trupla, fotografije u 22% slučajeva, razgovori s članovima obitelji pomogli su u identificiranju 18% slučajeva, a samo se je 10% slučajeva riješilo s pomoču zaživotnih stomatologa koji su prepoznali svoje stomatološke zahvate. Zubi u kombinaciji s antropološkim parametrima - dob, spol, visina uz neke druge specifične parametre kao što su tetovaza, osobni dokumenti, nakit i DNA raščlamba - pripomogli su u još 60,64% slučajeva, ali nisu bili dominantni zbog nepostojanja prijesmrnih podataka. Samo u 15,48%% slučajeva zubi nisu poslužili u postupku identifikacije, već je ona postignuta na temelu drugih vjerodostojnih podataka. Danas na kraju XX. stoljeća susreli smo se s do sada najvećim zahvatom uforenzičkoj stomatologiji u kojem se gotovo danomice educiramo na novim slučajevima. Identifikacijski se postupak nastavlja kako bi se pronašlo i identificiralo još 2.197 ljudi koji se vode nestalim od trenutka napada na Republiku Hrvatsku.The paper presents the results and procedure of identification of 523 bodies exhumed up until June 1996. The identification procedure was carried out in the Department o f Forensic Medicine and Criminology School of Medicine in Zagreb. A forensic dentist participated in the identification procedure, based on a breakdown of sets of teeth. All orodental characteristics were carefully registered in the Interpol forms for entry o f post-mortem dental characteristics, and in the CAPMI 4 computer programme. Forensic classification of genomic and mitochondrial DNA, based on the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), was carried out on the samples from dental tissue cells in cases when other traditional forensic methods were inadequate o f unsuccessful. Up until June 1996, 523 bodies had been exhumed in the Republic of Croatia: 412 men (78.77%) and 111 women (21.23%). A total o f 381 bodies (72.84%) were identified and 142 bodies (27.16%) remained unidentified. In 23.88% o f cases dental identification was achieved on the basis o f known dental features. The majority of bodies were identified by comparison with dental records (35%), X-rays helped in the identification of 15%, photographs in 22%, talks with members of the family helped in the identification o f 18% and 10% of cases were solved with the help of dentists, who recognised their own dental work. In combination with anthropological parameters - age, sex, height, together with other specific parameters, such as tattoos personal documents, jewellery and DNA classification, helped in another 60.64% o f cases, although they were not dominant due to the lack of data prior to their death. Teeth were o f no help no help in only 15.48% of cases. In such cases identification was made on the basis o f other reliable data. Today, at the end o f the 20th century, we are confronted with the greatest task ever in forensic dentistry, during which almost every day we come across new cases on which to learn. The identificationprocedure continues in order to find and identify a further 2.197 people^rep>orted missing during the attack on the Republic of Croatia