A novel method for sorting and reassociating commingled human remains using deviation analysis

This study provides an innovative and novel method for sorting commingled human remains at the sacroiliac joint using deviation analyses. Virtual models were created at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville Donated Skeletal Collection from 69 os coxae and 66 sacra using an EinScan-Pro 2x + Handheld Surface Scanner. The shape of the auricular surfaces was analyzed in Geomagic Wrap 2017, and the congruency of the two auricular surfaces was measured using a deviation analysis. ROC curves were performed on a reference sample composed of 200 commingled and non-commingled joint pairs to identify threshold values that could help sort the commingled remains. A validation sample of 225 pairs was subsequently analyzed to demonstrate the efficacy of this new method on a sample of unknown individuals. Statistical analyses demonstrated that the deviation analysis values from sacroiliac joints of commingled pairs were significantly larger than those from non-commingled individuals (p < 0.0001). Based on the selected threshold values, 98%-100% of pairs were correctly sorted and reassociated. This novel and objective technique improves upon previously subjective strategies for sorting commingled remains and, in the future, will be applied to additional joint surfaces.

Automated summary

This study presents a new and innovative method for sorting commingled human remains using deviation analyses at the sacroiliac joint. Virtual models were created from 69 os coxae and 66 sacra using a handheld surface scanner. The auricular surfaces were analyzed and their congruency measured using deviation analysis. ROC curves were performed to identify threshold values for sorting commingled remains. The results demonstrated high accuracy in sorting and reassociating the remains.