MECHANICAL INJURIES in forensic Medicine

Mechanical Injuries

1. MECHANICAL INJURIES

2. . Mechanical injuries: Abrasion  Bruise or contusion  Laceration  Incised wound  Stab wounds  Fractures and dislocations  Firearm wounds

3. ABRASION Injury caused by the removal of the superficial epithelial layer of skin  (generally epidermis)  by friction against the rough surface is called abrasion.

4. BRUISE

5. Incised wound Incised wounds are caused by making a clean cut through the tissues (usually skin, subcutaneous tissues, and blood vessels) with a sharp-edged instrument.

6. Stab wounds Stab wounds are produced due to the penetration of long narrow instruments having pointed ends into the body. They are deeper than their length and breadth. Weapons used are knives, broken bottles, scissors, daggers, screwdrivers, forks, etc.

7. Following are the types of stab wounds: (a) Penetrating wound (b) Perforating wound ( i ) Entry wounds (ii) Exit wounds

8. Miscellaneous Mechanical Injuries 1. Firearm Injuries Injuries caused by various firearms like pistols, rifles, revolvers, etc are known as firearm injuries. They cause entry and exit bullet wounds in the body.

9. 2. Defence Injuries (a) Active defense injuries b) Passive defense injuries (c) Fabricated Injuries (Fictitious/Forged)

10. Reason/motive behind fabricated injuries 1. To stimulate a criminal offense for the false charge. 2. To change simple injury to grievous to fabricate or for medical benefits. 3. By women, to bring the charge of sexual assault. 4. By prisoners to bring a charge of assault on officers. 5. By mentally ill person.

11. Thermal injuries General effect – heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps or miner’s cramp.  Local effect – burn (due to application of dry heat) and scald (due too application of moist heat  2.Exposure to cold –  Localized effect – Trench foot, immersion foot, frostbite.  General effect – Hypothermia

12. Chemical injuries:  Corrosion (due to application of strong acids or alkalis) &  Irritation (due to application of weak acids or alkalis).