Injuries

Forensic Science-Injuries, Types of injuries .....full

1. Injuries Forensic Science(Biology) Bahauddin Science College, Junagadh

2. introduction DEFINATION Medical Definition Breach of Continuity of any tissue of the body Legal Definition Any harm caused illegally to a person, i.e. to his body, mind, reputation or property

3. Injury Causative factor According to Severity Medicological Classification Moment of Death Simple Injury Grievous Injury Self infected Homicidal Accidental Defense wound Ante mortem Post mortem Miscellaneous Injuries Chemical Injuries Thermal Injuries Mechanical Factors Abrasions Bruise(Contusions) Lacerations Incised wound Stab wounds Firearm wounds Fracture OR Dislocation Due to heat Burns Scalds Due to cold Frostbite Trench foot Immersion foot Corrosive acids Corrosive alkalis Self inflicted injuries Defense injuries Offensive injuries Unintentional injuries Fatal and Non-fatal Injuries

4. Classification by causative factors Abrasions (Blunt impact injury ) An abrasion is a destruction of the skin which usually involves the superficial layers of the epidermis only. Weapon used : Hard/Blunt or Rough Object Stone, Stick, Nail, Needle, etc ….. Mechanical or physical injuries (Produced by application of mechanical force)

5. Abrasion Features of Abrasion Abrasions are superficial injuries but often it is deeper in tissue. At the site of abrasion, there may be oozing of lymph and some time, very slight, oozing of blood. The lymph or blood which oozes out and the denuded epithelial debris dry up within a few hours to form a scab. Abrasions heal without formation of permanent scars. Classification by causative factors - Abrasions

6. Abrasions Types of Abrasions Scratches / Linear (pointed weapon) Grazes / Sliding ( Wide rough Surface) Pressure Imprint / Patterned Causes : Horizontal / tangential friction Perpendicular friction Causes : Horizontal / tangential friction between the epidermis and wider part of rough surface of an object, weapon or ground Causes : Result of more or less perpendicular application of force on body surface Examples : Ligature marks Nail abrasions Teeth bite abresions Causes : The design of the weapon with its shape may be left imprinted on the abresion Example: Cycle chain Automobile grill Tyre of a wheel Varieties of pressure abresions Classification by causative factors - Abrasions

7. Medicolegal Importance of Abrasions They indicates site of impact and direction of force. They may be the only external science of serious internal injury. Pattern abrasions are helpful in connecting the crime with the object which produce them. The age of the injury can be known. In open wounds, dirt, dust, greace or grit are usually present which may connect the injuries to the scene of crime. Manner of injury may be known from its distribution In throttling, curved abrasion due to finger-nails are found on the neck. In smothering, abrasions may be seen around the mouth and the nose. In sexual assaults, abrasions may be found on the breasts, genitals, inside of the thighs and around the anus. Abrasions on the face or body of the assailant indicate a struggle. Abrasions Classification by causative factors - Abrasions

8. Condition of abrasion by time-taken Time Condition Fresh Bright Red 12 to 24 hours Lymph and blood dries up producing a bright red scab 2 to 3 days Reddish brown scab 4 to 7 days Epithelium covers the defect under the scab After 7 days Scab dries, shrinks and falls off Classification by causative factors

9. Ante-mortem vs post-mortem Points Ante-mortem abrasion Post-mortem abrasion Site Anywhere on the body Over exposed bony prominences 2. Oozing of Lymph Present Absent 3. Scab formation Present Absent 4. Color changes Present Absent, mostly yellowish 5. Parchmentisation Absent Present Classification by causative factors - Abrasions

10. Bruise(Contusions ) In bruise or contusion, there is ecchymoses or effusion of blood in the subcutaneous or submucus tissue for extravasation of blood due to rupture of capillaries, caused by application of hard blunt force. There is no solution or breach of continuity of the covering skin but the epidermis may occasionally be abraded. Weapon used : Hard blunt weapon Stone, Stick, Fist-blow Classification by causative factors - bruise

11. Features of bruise Patterned Bruising : A bruise is usually round but it may indicate the nature of the weapon used Proof of Bruising : Contusions in the subcutaneous tissue may be detected by parallel incisions through the skin. Deep Bruises are detected by deep incisions made into muscles. Contusions of the scalp can be detected by reflecting the scalp and making incisions from the aponeurotic surface. When in doubt, a portion must be taken for microscopy. Classification by causative factors - bruise

12. Condition of bruise by time-taken Appearance of Bruises: A superficial bruise appears at one as a dark red discolouration . A deep bruise may take several hours to one or two days to appear . Therefore, a second examination should be carried out two days later . Classification by causative factors - bruise Time Condition At first Red Few hours to 3 days Blue 4 th day Bluish black to brown 5 to 6 days Greenish 7 to 12 days Yellowish Two weeks Normal

13. Medico-legal Importance A bruise is a simple injury, but the contusion of the heart may cause death. multiple contusions may cause death from shock and internal haemorrhage. A contusion may contain 20 to 30 ml. of blood or more . Patterned bruises may connect the Victim and the object or weapon . The age of the injury can be determined . The degree of violence may be determined from their extent . In the case of a fall, sand, dust or mud may be found on the body . The manner of injury may be known from its distribution (similar to abrasions). Classification by causative factors - bruise