Module 11.2 Flashcards
Types of BFT
Abrasions
Contusions
Lacerations
Fractures
Abrasions
Loss of superficial skin surface
Little to no bleeding
3 types: scrape, impact, pattern
Scrape-hit at an angle, hair helps protect, see broken hairs and loss of epidermis, ex: road rash
Impact-hit perpendicularly, uncommon in animals, see imprint of object (gravel on skin)
Pattern-hits and pattern left on skin reflects shape of object, uncommon in animals unless caused by nails
When abrasions occur
Antemortem-prior to death, red/brown +/- scabbing, histo possibly useful
Postmortem-after death, yellow/tan like parchment paper, insect activity can mimic
Perimortem-soon before or after death
Contusions
Bruises
Hemorrhaging beneath skin-skin itself intact
Can be seen in organs, may not be visible on live animals due to fur and pigment
May appear away from area of impact, and may take time to appear
Contusions=trauma, different pathogenesis=coagulopathy
Often associated with other injuries and localized
Bleeding due to coagulopathies often diffuse
Cannot be reliably aged by color, but roughly on histo (acute v chronic)
Extent of bruise doesn’t necessarily correlate with severity of impact
Not all hematomas are contusions
Pattern contusions
Similar to pattern abrasions
Not common in animals
Cylindrical objects can cause tramline bruising
Possess features/configuration of object or surface that produces mirror image of what caused it
Consistently reproducible
Ex: belt, tool, hand
Coup and contrecoup contusions
Brain is mobile in skull
Coup-at site of impact of object, when MOVING object hits STATIONARY head (bat hitting dog)
Contrecoup-side opposite of point of impact, when MOVING head hits STATIONARY object (cat thrown at wall)
Can have one or both
Lacerations
Crushing or stretching
Can occur anywhere but common over bony prominences
Cannot be caused by sharp force trauma
Avulsions-skin and soft tissue pulled from bone/fascia (degloving)
