The Sternal Foramen: The Possible Forensic Misinterpretation of an Anatomic Abnormality

Abstract

The sternum is one of the skeleton parts with frequent variation in appearance on images or  during autopsy studies. Therefore the knowledge of sternal variations and anomalies is useful so as not to  confuse those with pathological conditions and acquired lesions, usually gunshot or stab wounds.  Awareness of a sternal foramen is important in acupuncture practice also. Acupuncturists should be  aware of congenital sternal foramina to avoid serious heart injury by needle insertion, especially since this  area holds a commonly used acupuncture point. Besides this it is important for doctors to have thorough  knowledge about sternal anomalies for better diagnosis and treatment. Here we discuss one case  brought for autopsy in the Department of Forensic Medicine PGIMS, Rohtak. We observed in this case a  sternum with a large oval foramen in lower one third of the body which could have mislead to the  diagnosis of a firearm/stab wound in a skeletonized remains of a body.