Korean J Leg Med.  2008 May;32(1):34-38.

A New Technique of Fingerprints Restoration in Putrefied and Dried Fingers; Rehydration

• Shin KT
• Kim EH
• Jung SK

Abstract

Fingerprints remain the most important methodology of personal identification in the field of scene investigation despite of outstanding current DNA typing technique. Restoration of fingerprints may be, however, difficult or impossible in cases of severely putrefied or dried bodies. Several methods have been used in fingerprints recovery but they are somewhat easy and costly. We introduce a new practical method that is reconditioning of friction ridge skin with rehydration, which can obtain a good quality for comparison and identification via the automated fingerprint identification system. We think this method is easy to use and could contribute to restoring fingerprints of dead bodies with severe postmortem change.

Keyword

fingerprints restoration; rehydration; severe postmortem change

MeSH Terms

Dermatoglyphics
DNA Fingerprinting
Fluid Therapy
Friction
Humans
Skin