Finite element assessment of the effect of open penetrating craniocerebral trauma on the postmortem temperature field of the head

The aim of the study is to develop a finite element model of postmortem heat exchange of the head in the presence of an open penetrating traumatic brain injury and to assess the degree of its influence on the postmortem temperature field of this area of the body. Using the ELCUT 6.5 application, based on the finite element method, modeling of the geometry and postmortem heat exchange of anatomical structures of the human head in the absence and presence of a penetrating wound and associated intracranial membrane hemorrhages was carried out. A twodimensional finite element model of finding the postmortem temperature field of the head with an open penetrating craniocerebral injury under conditions of convective heat exchange with the air environment has been developed. The absence of a significant local effect of an open penetrating head wound on the postmortem dynamics of cranioencephalic and surface temperature is proved. It is concluded that cranioencephalic temperature can be used to determine the postmortem interval in the presence of an open penetrating traumatic brain injury.