Forensic Science International 176 (2008) 157162

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Experimental evaluation of rigor mortis

IX. The influence of the breaking (mechanical solution)
on the development of rigor mortis
Thomas Krompecher *, Andre Gilles, Conception Brandt-Casadevall, Patrice Mangin
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 21, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
Received 5 February 2007; received in revised form 12 June 2007; accepted 27 August 2007
Available online 4 October 2007

Abstract
Objective measurements were carried out to study the possible re-establishment of rigor mortis on rats after breaking (mechanical solution).
Our experiments showed that:

 Cadaveric rigidity can re-establish after breaking.

 A significant rigidity can reappear if the breaking occurs before the process is complete.
 Rigidity will be considerably weaker after the breaking.
 The time course of the intensity does not change in comparison to the controls:
- the re-establishment begins immediately after the breaking;
- maximal values are reached at the same time as in the controls;
- the course of the resolution is the same as in the controls.

# 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Rigor mortis; Breaking of rigor mortis; Estimation of time since death

1. Introduction  What will be the time course of development of rigidity after

Recently, we were asked to carry out a forensic expertise in a
homicide case. The main incriminating evidence was the time
of death. Its estimation was based on the finding that after the
breaking of rigor mortis at the time of discovery of corpse,
cadaveric rigidity did not re-establish.
This case led us to ask the following questions:
 Is it possible for cadaveric rigidity to re-establish itself after
the breaking?
 If so, what is the postmortem time limit for this process to
occur?
 What will be the intensity of rigor mortis after the breaking?
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +41 21 314 70 70; fax: +41 21 314 70 90.
E-mail address: Thomas.Krompecher@chuv.ch (T. Krompecher).
the breaking?
 In relation to this last question, we specifically wished to
understand:
- how fast could rigidity re-establish itself?
- what are the maximum values that can be reached?
- what is the course of resolution?
The review of the literature did not reveal pertinent
standardised experimental data to answer these questions, so
we decided to perform experiments.
2. Material and methods
Experiments were conducted with 72 male albino rats, each weighing
300  10 g. The animals were sacrificed by carbon dioxide inhalation, without
any previous treatment and always at the same time (between 7 and 8 a.m.).
After death they were immediately placed in the measuring apparatus at an
ambient temperature of 24 8C.

0379-0738/$ see front matter # 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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158 T. Krompecher et al. / Forensic Science International 176 (2008) 157162

Our method and apparatus have been described elsewhere in detail [14]
and we give only a short explanation here: we measure the force necessary to
cause a movement of small amplitude (4 mm) of the hind limbs, a test that does
not break rigor mortis and thus allows serial measurements.
The animals were divided in 6 groups of 12 each:
Group 1: control.
Group 2: breaking at 1h postmortem (h pm).
Group 3: breaking at 2h pm.
Group 4: breaking at 3h pm.
Group 5: breaking at 4h pm.
Group 6: breaking at 6h pm.
Rigidity was broken by pulling the hind limbs strongly two times.
Measurements were made 10 min, respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 16 and
24 h pm. Immediately after breaking the rigidity, we made a second measure-
ment on the limb in question, to register the remaining resistance.
The mean of the values of the 24 hind limbs in each group were computed
and statistical evaluation was carried out with the Student t-test.
Note: The animal experimentations were authorised by the local Health
Authorities, on the recommendation of a special Committee.
3. Results
The results of the measurements of the intensity of rigor
mortis in the different groups are presented in Table 1 and
Figs. 16.
Fig. 1 shows the curve of the development of the intensity of
rigor mortis in the control group. The curve rises to attain a
maximal value at 6 h pm. There is a statistically significant rise
( p < 0.01) between the successive values up to 4 h pm.
Between the values obtained 4 and 6 h pm there is no more
statistically significant difference, thus we can consider that full
rigidity is achieved already at 4 h pm. The first statistically
significant intensity decrease appears between the values
measured at 8 and 12 h pm ( p < 0.01) and the decrease remains
significant up to 24 h pm (between 12 and 16 h pm, p = 0.032
and between 16 and 24 h pm, p < 0.01).
Fig. 2 shows the curve of Group 2, compared to that of the
controls. After breaking the rigidity at 1 h pm the values fell to
the initial level measured at 10 m pm. The decrease is highly
significant ( p < 0.01). Subsequently, the chronology, as
reflected by the shape of the curves, was similar, although
the values are significantly lower ( p < 0.05) at every points of
measurement with the exception of that at 24 h. The increase in
the intensity of rigor mortis is statistically significant between
the values obtained after the breaking and at 2 h pm ( p < 0.01),
between 2 and 3 h pm ( p < 0.01) and between 3 and 4 h pm
( p = 0.022). After 4 h pm there are no more significant
differences between the successive values obtained (between 4
and 6 h pm, p = 0.11, between 4 and 8 h pm, p = 0.067, between
8 and 16 h pm, p = 0.056) but a significant decrease was
observed between the values obtained at 8 and 24 h pm
( p < 0.01).
Fig. 3 shows the results of the measurements obtained in
Group 3 compared to the controls. The two curves are identical
up to 2 h pm. After the breaking at 2 h pm the values fell as seen
before and in the following period this curve is also similar to
the control curve but all values are significantly lower then
those of the controls ( p < 0.05). Maximal values are attained at
5 h pm. The differences are statistically significant ( p < 0.01)
between the successive values from the breaking up to 5 h pm
but there is no more statistically significant difference between
those obtained at 5 and 6 h pm. The first statistically significant
decrease occurs between 12 and 16 h pm ( p = 0.02).
In Group 4 (Fig. 4) the breaking occurred at 3 h pm. Up to
this moment the two curves are identical. After the breaking we
observe again the re-establishment of the rigor mortis. The
difference between the values obtained after the breaking and
those at 4 h pm is highly significant ( p < 0.01). The increase of
the intensity continues up to 5 h pm. The difference between 4
and 5 h pm is statistically significant ( p = 0.016) but no more
significant between 5 and 6 h pm ( p = 0.064). The maximal
values attained in this group are significantly lower ( p < 0.01)
than those in the Group 2 (breaking at 1 h pm). The first
significant decrease between consecutive values is observed
between 12 and 16 h pm ( p = 0.012) and it is also significant
between 16 and 24 h pm ( p < 0.01) and between 6 and 12 h pm
( p < 0.01). The general feature of the two curves, i.e. the
chronology of the development of the intensity of rigor mortis is
the same.
Fig. 5 represents the curve of Group 5 where the breaking
occurred at 4 h pm. As before, the values are identical to the
controls up to the breaking. After the breaking we can see a
statistically significant rise in the resistance between 4 and 5 h

Table 1
Intensity changes of rigor mortis in the hind limbs of rats during its evolution after breaking in different postmortem periods
Time pm (h) Control 1h 2h 3h 4h 6h
0.17 5.75 5.25 5.85 4.35 6.14 5.85
1 11.13 11.85, 6.15a 12.41 11.40 11.54 11.15
2 16.69 11.35 16.73, 5.65a 16.70 16.15 16.25
3 21.21 17.10 10.43 20.55, 7.05a 20.55 20.31
4 25.33 20.85 15.76 15.80 24.62, 6.11a 24.28
5 26.78 22.85 19.00 20.10 10.77 26.41
6 27.47 26.45 20.92 23.35 12.06 27.45, 5.98a
8 25.94 22.05 20.63 21.20 12.36 9.36
12 22.43 19.20 18.80 18.70 12.13 9.76
16 20.01 18.25 16.70 13.85 11.31 8.94
24 15.47 14.45 13.98 11.80 10.40 8.93
Mean values (g) for 12 animals (24 hind limbs).
a
After breaking.
T. Krompecher et al. / Forensic Science International 176 (2008) 157162 159

Fig. 1. Influence of breaking on rigor mortiscontrol.

Fig. 2. Influence of breaking on rigor mortisbreaking 1 h pm.

Fig. 3. Influence of breaking on rigor mortisbreaking 2 h pm.

160 T. Krompecher et al. / Forensic Science International 176 (2008) 157162

Fig. 4. Influence of breaking on rigor mortisbreaking 3 h pm.

Fig. 5. Influence of breaking on rigor mortisbreaking 4 h pm.

Fig. 6. Influence of breaking on rigor mortisbreaking 6 h pm.

 T. Krompecher et al. / Forensic Science International 176 (2008) 157162
pm ( p < 0.01) and a non-significant rise ( p = 0.065) between 5
and 6 h pm. Nevertheless, the maximal values attained in this
group are significantly lower then those measured at 24 h pm in
the controls, i.e. after the complete resolution of rigor mortis
( p < 0.01).
Fig. 6 shows the values measured in Group 6 where the
rigidity was broken at 6 h pm. The results are similar to those in
Group 5; the rigor mortis was no more re-established. As in
Group 5 we can see a significant rise in the resistance after
breaking, i.e. between 6 and 8 h pm ( p < 0.01) and the
maximal values are significantly lower then those measured at
24 h pm in the controls, i.e. after the complete resolution of
rigor mortis. It is to mention that there are no more changes in
the resistance after the maximal values were reached.
4. Discussion and conclusion
Although our knowledge is still limited about its develop-
ment over time, rigor mortis is routinely used to estimate the
time since death.
It is generally admitted that a measuring device has to be
tested in various conditions before use. Or, this validation was
never done as regards of numerous factors susceptible to
influence the development of the rigidity.
For this reason, many years ago, we developed a method
which permitted us to evaluate the effect of different factors
(cause of death [4], ambient temperature [5], physical exercise
[1], electrocution [6], etc.) on the establishment and the time
course of rigor mortis.
Concerning the re-establishment of rigor mortis after
breaking, the search of literature yielded very few data; those
we found were empirical. Saukko and Knight [7] described that
When fully established rigor is broken by forcible move-
ment of the limbs or neck, then it will not return . . . If rigor is
still developing, it will continue in the new posture . . ..
Mallach [8,9] states that the re-established rigor is less strong
then it was before breaking. Henssge et al. [10] wrote that these
data are figures from textbooks without any experimental
basis. Merkel [11] described in 1937 that cadaveric rigidity
can re-establish if the breaking was made before its complete
development. He published a graphic showing results similar to
ours, specifying that it is a schematic drawing, without any
other indication of its origin.
We did not found any experimental data concerning the re-
establishment of rigidity after the breaking of rigor mortis, fact
that motivated our research.
Our results showed that:
 Cadaveric rigidity can re-establish after breaking.
 A significant rigidity can reappear if the breaking occurs
before the process is complete.
 Rigidity will be considerably weaker after the breaking.
 The time course of the intensity does not change in
comparison to the controls:
- the re-establishment begins immediately after the breaking;
- maximal values are reached at the same time as in the
controls;
161
- the course of the resolution is the same as in the controls.
To explain the phenomenon of the re-establishment of rigor
mortis after breaking our hypothesis is the following:
In the course of the development of rigidity muscle fibres
enter the rigid state progressively, i.e. one by one according to
their different metabolism. The less fibres are rigid, the easily
can rigor mortis appear anew. When full rigor is installed, there
remain no more muscle fibres which could reproduce rigidity
after the breaking.
After the breaking at 4 h pm, i.e. after the rigor was fully
established, we still observed an increase in resistance, but the
maximal values were lower than those measured in the control
group 24 h pm, after complete resolution. We thus conclude
that this resistance is not caused by rigor mortis. Every person
dealing with dead bodies can observe, that on human corpses,
after resolution of rigor mortis which requires 23 days
depending on the ambient temperature in spite of complete
resolution, the joints are not as mobile as during the initial few
minutes postmortem. Certain rigidity remains and it can be
easily broken. We believe that this residual rigidity is not
caused by muscular rigidity per se, but rather by the resistance
of all the periarticular tissues. We base our opinion also on the
fact, that in the Group 6 there was a significant rise in the
resistance after breaking, but there were no more changes in the
resistance after the maximal values were reached, i.e. no
resolution.
Our results confirm the data published in the literature. This
is not surprising. Though these data are passed from textbook to
textbook without any experimental basis [10], they are based
on observation and in this field our predecessors were good
probably more attentive and systematic then we are. Never-
theless, the review and in occurrence the confirmation of
these data was necessary. The confirmation of this phenomenon
with standardised experiment allows us to understand and to
use rigor mortis more accurately in estimating the time since
death and above all to avoid errors.
Acknowledgement
The study has been supported by a grant of the Swiss
National Science Foundation.
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