Transposing maxillofacial digital workflows to forensic reconstruction: 3D reassembly of fragmented craniofacial...

Cold cases involving fragmented skeletal remains present major interpretative challenges, particularly when craniofacial trauma must be reconstructed from fragile, scattered bone fragments. In the present case, human remains discovered during excavation were severely altered and exhibited multiple craniofacial fractures. Forensic anthropologists and maxillofacial surgeons collaborated to restore cranial volume and clarify injury mechanism using a hospital-based digital workflow. All fragments were scanned using cone-beam computed tomography, manually segmented, virtually reassembled based on cortical congruence and anatomical landmarks, and reproduced at full scale via fused deposition modeling. Three-dimensional reconstruction revealed clustered radial and concentric craniofacial fractures consistent with multiple blunt impacts. Physical replicas enabled manual reassembly while minimizing manipulation of the original remains. Both the virtual reconstruction and the assembled printed skull were subsequently presented to the investigating magistrate. This technical note highlights the potential of maxillofacial digital workflows to support non-destructive reconstruction of complex craniofacial trauma in forensic contexts.