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Sharp Edged and Pointed

Sharp Edged and Pointed Instrument Injuries – Forensic Medicine

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Introduction

In this article we will primarily discuss those injuries produced by sharp-edged instruments, incised wounds, and pointed instruments with a sharp-edge or edges, stab wounds. This will be followed by a discussion of chop wounds and those instruments without a sharp edge, but have a blunt point such as found on screwdrivers and barbecue forks. Impaled injuries will be discussed. Mechanism and manner of death will then be reviewed. Throughout this article there will be a brief discussion of terms, such as ʻcardiac tamponade,ʼ and cellular structures such as neutrophils in order to enhance understanding. Lastly, there is considerable space devoted to a discussion of the chronological histological features for dating of incised or stab wounds, the purpose of which is to show there is sound scientific evidence for the histologic dating of these injuries.Incised Wounds-General Information..

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Forensic Autopsy of Blunt Force Trauma

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Overview

Deaths resulting from blunt force trauma are some of the most common cases encountered by the practicing forensic pathologist. Whereas other forms of traumatic death (eg, gunshot wounds, sharp force injuries) occur under a relatively limited number of circumstances, deaths resulting from blunt force trauma occur in a variety of scenarios. For instance, almost all transportation fatalities — including those involving motor vehicle collisions, pedestrians being struck by vehicles, airplane crashes, and boating incidents — result from blunt force trauma. Other deaths resulting from blunt force trauma involve jumping or falling from heights, blast injuries, and being struck by a firm object, such as a fist, crowbar, bat, or ball. Bite wounds and chop injuries may be considered variants of blunt force trauma, sharp force trauma, or a class of injuries untothemselves.

Blunt force trauma is routinely involved in cases classified as accidents, as well as in...

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