32. Wounds and Injuries Flashcards
What is a wound?
Disruption of normal tissue structures due to an application of force
What are the types of blunt injuries?
Bruises
Abrasions
Lacerations
What are the type of bruises?
Intradermal Subcutaneous Contusions Purpura Petechiae
what are purpura?
Bruises smaller than a few mm
What are petechiae a sign of?
DIC
Asphyxiation
What does an intradermal bruise look like?
Superficial and red
Can retain the imprint of an object or clothing
What does a subcutaneous bruise look like?
Blue
Increases in size and changes shape over time
What is battle’s sign?
Bruise over the mastoid process
Related to a fracture at the base of the skull
What is the name given to 2 parallel bruises with a line of undamaged skin in the middle?
Tramline bruises
Occurs when skin is struck by a rod-shaped object
When do abrasions occur?
After skin is struck or a fall onto a rough surface
What ways can abrasions be useful in determining the cause of death?
Can retain surface characteristics of an object
Direction of the force can be determined from torn epidermis
What are lacerations?
Gashes, tears or cuts of skin
Especially over bony areas
What is a degloving injury?
Skin torn off by wheels of a motorised vehicle when rotating
What is the definition of a stab wound?
Surface injury that is deeper than it is wide
Give a few examples of features of a stab wound
Slightly shorter than the blade width as the skin contracts
Hilt of the blade might leave bruises
Fishtails if the blade was moved
What is an incised wound?
Length>depth
Uninjured margins
What features of a wound can be used to age it?
Colour of bruises
Scab formation and scarring
Histological: iron/haemosiderin deposition
IHC
What does the entry wound from a shot gun look like?
About same diameter as barrel
Scorched around edge of the wound
Close shots might leave wad of shotgun inside
At what distance can satellite pellets be seen with a shot gun wound?
> 2m
What does the entry hole of a rifle look like?
Neat entry hole smaller than diameter of bullet
Edges soiled with bullet grease
Edges of wound invert into body
Star-shaped entry wound to skull
What possible injuries might a driver in an RTA sustain?
Glass damage to head
Abrasions, lacerations and fractures to below waist
Bruising and fractures to trunk and upper limb
Eye injuries from sodium azide in airbags
What effect can bumper height have on a pedestrian’s injuries?
Above centre of gravity: knocked down
Below causes an adult to be picked up and a child to be knocked over
