Wounds

Question 1

Definition of wound

Answer 1

A wound is the disruption of the continuity of tissues (skin, bone, blood vessels, or organs) produced by external mechanical trauma.

Question 2

legal classifications of wounds:

Answer 2

simple wounds: which heal less than 20 days leaving no permanent infirmity
dangerous wounds: which heal in more than 20 days or leave a permanent infirmity
Fatal mortal wounds: which lead to death, immediately or within a short time after its infliction

Question 3

definition of permanent infirmity

Answer 3

loss of functioning organ or loss of the function of this organ

Question 4

examples of Permanent infirmity

Answer 4

• Permanent loss of vision following trauma.
• The defect in the skull after the trephine operation.

Question 4

loss of a non-functioning organ is referred to as

Answer 4

“Disfigurement”
as loss of a blind eye.

Question 5

Medico legal classification of the wounds according to etiology

Answer 5

1, Abrasions.
2. Contusions or bruises.
3. Lacerated or contused
wounds.
4. Incised or cut wounds.
5. Stab wounds.
6. Fractures.
7. Fire arm wounds.

Question 6

definition of the abrasions

Answer 6

Abrasions are defined as destruction of the superficial layers of the skin (either the epidermis alone or together with the upper dermis) due to pressure or friction with a rough blunt object.

Question 7

enumerate types of abrasions

Answer 7

1. Pressure abrasion:
   Caused by stamping of a blunt object against the skin; eg.:
   * Teeth marks.
   * Nail abrasions.
   * Ligature marks in hanging and strangulation.
   * Car accident : bumper impact
2. Friction (sliding or dragging) abrasions:
   Caused by linear movement of a blunt object upon the skin; eg.:
   * Nail abrasions
   * Car accidents
   * Grazes: when rough wide object comes in contact with a broad surface of the skin by tangential force (e.g. the ground).
   * Scratch: linear abrasion produced by drawing a sharp pointed object over the skin (e.g. needle).

Question 8

examples of pressure abrasion

Answer 8

• Teeth marks.
• Nail abrasions.
• Ligature marks in hanging and strangulation.
• Car accident : bumper impact

Question 9

examples of friction abrasion

Answer 9

• Nail abrasions
• Car accidents
• Grazes: when rough wide object comes in contact with a broad surface of the skin by tangential force (e.g. the ground).
• Scratch: linear abrasion produced by drawing a sharp pointed object over the skin (e.g. needle).

Question 10

medico legal importance of abrasion

Answer 10

1. Abrasions denote signs of violence and resistance,
2. Abrasions take the shape of the causal object,

Question 11

are the simplest form of wounds from the clinical point of view,

Answer 11

abrasion

Question 12

Medico legal importance of abrasions

Answer 12

1. Abrasions denote signs of violence and resistance
2. Abrasions take the shape of the causal object,
3. Site of abrasion occurs exactly at the site of impact
4. Site of abrasion reflects the sort of the assault
5. The direction of injury and position of the assailant
6. The age of abrasion indicate the date of the crime
7. Abrasions help to identify the assailant
8. A.M. abrasions should be differentiated from P.M.:

Question 13

Definition of Contusions (bruises)

Answer 13

Bruises are extravasations of blood into the tissues following rupture of blood vessels due to blunt trauma.
bruises are most commonly seen in the skin but ut can also occur in the deeper tissues eg. muscles and internal oragans

Question 14

Abrasions take the shape of the causal object, as

Answer 14

nail abrasion in smothering and throttling,
ligature marks in strangulation and hanging,
teeth marks in bites and tire marks in car accident.

Question 15

Site of abrasion occurs exactly at the site of impact

Answer 15

Semi lunar nail abrasions around the neck in throttling,
around the mouth and nostrils in smothering.

Question 15

The age of abrasion indicate the date of the crime from:

Answer 15

First two days: covered by a soft scab.
After three days: covered by dry scab.
After one week: the scab falls leaving a coppery red area.
After three weeks: disappears leaving no scar.

Question 16

Abrasions help to identify the assailant from:

Answer 16

Shape of the bite marks fitting with victim’s teeth.
Finger nail abrasions may tell whether he is left or right handed or missing a finger.

Question 17

A.M. abrasions should be differentiated from P.M.:

Answer 17

• A.M. abrasions are characterized by the presence of vital
  reactions (redness, healing and sepsis).
• Post-mortem abrasions are due to rough handling of dead
  bodies or due to the effect of insects as ants.

Question 18

Definition of CONTUSED / LACERATED WOUNDS

Answer 18

Tearing, splitting or rupture of the skin and subcutaneous tissues due to compression or grinding by heavy blunt object; e.g. motor vehicles accidents or falling from height.

Question 19

definition of primary flaccidity

Answer 19

Is defined as the complete relaxation and loss of both tone &
reflexes of voluntary and involuntary muscles immediately
after death and remains till the onset of post mortem rigidity.

Question 20

Manifestations of primary flaccidity

Answer 20

• The face acquires a peaceful look, the lower jaw drops, the
  eye balls lose their tension & the pupils dilate.
• The muscles are soft & flabby but reactive to the external
  stimuli (period of molecular life).
• The joints are easily flexible.
• The sphincters relax resulting in incontinence of urine and
  feces.

Question 21

MLI of cooling:

Answer 21

• It denotes the time passed since death.
• It denotes the cause of death from rate of cooling.
• Differentiation between primary and secondary flaccidity.

Question 21

what is contact flattening and its medico legal importance

Answer 21

is the flattening of the convex parts of the compressed
muscles in the most dependent sites.
MLI:
presence of contact flattening in non-dependent sites
indicates alteration of the body position after death, eg.
Flattening of buttocks in hanged body indicates postmortem
PM) suspension.