Ante-mortem and Post-mortem injuries - Copy.pdf

Forensic science

1. Ante-mortem and Post-
mortem injuries
Dr. Sudhir Sharma
Forensic Expert
CDTI, Ghaziabad

2. Classification wounds
Suicidal wounds
Homicidal wounds
Accidental wounds
Defense wound
Fabricated wound

3. Classification of injuries
Simple injury –this is a type of injury where there is no
permanent damage to body or any specific body part and
person is able to resume daily work within 20 days of
treatment. Example –Scratch, minor cuts on skin
Grievous injury –in this type of injury there is permanent
damage to a body part(s) making a person disabled. Example –
inability to see from one or both eyes, deafness due to injury to
ear
Fatal Injury –this is a type of injury where damage to body or
any body part results in death of the person

4. Injuries caused by Mechanical Force
1.Injuries caused by blunt weapon or hard surface
➢Abrasion
➢Contusion
➢Lacerated wound
➢Fracture

5. Fissured Fracture of Skull

6. Lacerated Wound of Scalp with Contused
Edges

7. 2.Wounds caused by contact with pointed object
➢Incised wound
➢Chop wound
➢Penetrating or punctured wound
➢Fire arm injuries

8. Incised Wound of Neck

9. Stab (Penetrating) Wounds of Abdomen

10. Rifled Firearm Injury (Entry)

11. Shotgun Entry Wound with Dispersion of
Shot

12. Abrasion
➢Caused when skin rubs or scrapes against a rough or hard
surface
➢Road rash is an example of an abrasion
➢Generally there is either no bleeding or blood is seen at
outer layer of skin
➢These injuries do not leave any mark on the skin once
fully recovered

13. ➢Generally Abrasion injuries are of 4 types:
1.Graze – caused by friction from a hard surface
2.Pressure – caused by pressure applied from a hard surface
such as bite, nail marks, rope knot marks
3.Compression – caused by pressure applied by a hard
heavy object, such as strike by a stick like object or
vehicle run over marks
4.Scratch – injury caused by a pointed object such as pin,
thorn, pointed edge of an object

14. Scratch Abrasion

15. Time of injury can be estimated from
following observations
Time of Injury Appearance
Fresh abrasion Skin surface looks shiny red
12-24 hours old Shiny dry layer on skin due to
dry blood
2-3 days old Reddish brown dry layer on skin
4-7 days old Injury starts to heal under the
dry layer of skin
More than 7 days old Dry layer of skin starts to fall
off
10-14 days old Marks of injury starts to
disappear

16. Grazed abrasion

17. Contusion or Bruises
Injury caused by strike of a hard object causing rupture of
tissue inside the upper surface of the skin (dermis)
Lower layer of skin is affected causing blue or black injury
marks on the skin
Time of these type of injuries can be determined based on
below:
Colour of skin Estimated time of injury
Red Soon after the injury
Bluish colour on skin 1-2 days after the injury
Black or brownish colour of skin3-4 days after the injury
Greenish colour of skin 5-7 days after the injury
Yellowish colour of skin 7-10 days after the injury
Normal colour of skin Approx 14 days after the injury

18. Lacerated wound
A laceration is a deep cut or tearing of skin by a blunt
object
Edges of these types of wounds are rough and contused
(blueish coloured) at times
Contused
Laceration

19. Penetrating or punctured wound
puncture is a small hole like injury caused by a long,
pointy object, such as a nail or needle
Length and width of such wounds is less than the actual
deepness of the wound
Edges of such wounds depend on the type of object used
to make such wounds

20. Firearm Injuries
A firearm injury is defined as a gunshot wound or
penetrating injury from a weapon that uses a powder
charge to fire a projectile
This definition includes gunshot injuries sustained from
handguns, rifles, and shotguns but excludes gunshot
wounds from air- and gas-powered guns, BB guns, and
pellet guns, as well as non-penetrating injuries associated
with firearms (eg, “pistol whipping”)

21. Difference between Ante-mortem and post mortem
injuries
Ante-mortem abrasion Post mortem abrasion
Looks brownish or reddish in colourAppears brown and parchment like
Scab formation is noticed No scab is ever noticed
May show bleeding surface, when
fresh
Does not show such appearance
Healing process may be evident It will never be evident
May be present over any part of bodyIf present, seen usually over bony
prominence
Surface may feel moist from
exudation of scrum and blood
Surface looks dry, there will be no
evidence of bleeding or exudation of
blood or serum

22. Thank You