[2] Objects that commonly cause chop injuries include axes, propellers, and lawnmower blades (as shown in the image below). Forensic Autopsy of Blunt Force Trauma. Common organs that are affected include the spleen, liver, and small intestine. Blood Spatter in Blunt Force Trauma These hyperpigmented spots or patches are most often found on the sacrum of infants, and they occur in people of all races (up to 90% of Native Americans, 80% of Asians, and 10% of whites). Pneumothorax can occur as a result of a blow to the chest, such as . Most homicides involving blunt force trauma result from the victim being struck in the head or neck with an object such as a hammer, fireplace poker, flower vase, etc. Blunt force trauma to the temporal bone. Forensic Autopsy of Blunt Force Trauma. Reber SL, Simmons T. Interpreting injury mechanisms of blunt force trauma from butterfly fracture formation. Chapter 10. Incisions through the skin may show deep muscular hemorrhage and/or bony fractures (see the following image). Given a high-speed motor vehicle crash history, a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis was ordered. 2003 Apr. Solid-organ blunt abdominal trauma includes most commonly the liver, but also the spleen, and kidneys. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Abrasion on the elbow. It is also the 6th leading cause of death worldwide. For example, the cause of death of an individual who dies of pneumonia after being hospitalized for several days for treatment of blunt force injuries following a motor vehicle collision should be certified as "acute bronchopneumonia complicating blunt force injuries due to a motor vehicle accident." A real-life example of using laboratory tests to evaluate blunt trauma can be seen in a case reported in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. In another study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, hockey players are at an increase in sustaining upper and lower body injuries, including bruises, strains, and fractures. J Scott Denton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Medical Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Clinical Pathology, College of American Pathologists, Illinois State Medical Society, National Association of Medical Examiners, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Illinois Society of Pathology, Peoria Medical SocietyDisclosure: Nothing to disclose. In addition, there are various somewhat common congenital defects that due to the relatively peaceful nature of our day-to-day are never discovered, but can have a significant effect on response to blows to the head. Blunt trauma, also known as blunt force trauma or non-penetrating trauma, is physical trauma or impactful force to a body part, often occurring with road traffic collisions, direct blows, assaults, injuries during sports, and particularly in the elderly who fall. A common question from lawyers and other interested parties is whether a particular surface or weapon could have caused the injuries seen at autopsy. What creates the feeling of 'excess' blood pressure to an area of the body? A firm callus with a bony union occurs during weeks 2-6; after this period, no further specific changes occur. Morley EJ, English B, Cohen DB, Paolo WF. Blunt force trauma can cause several types of injury any one of which is sufficient to cause death. In some cases, the injury may have occurred many years before death. Blunt trauma is classified as a force striking the body, and its consequences are dependent on the location of the trauma. Chop injuries are sometimes regarded as a variant of blunt force trauma. Overlaying the injury with plastic wrap and tracing it with a pen can also provide useful documentation. Likewise, an impact on a small area of a curved surface, such as the head, will cause greater damage than would be caused were that same impact to occur on a flat surface, such as the back, since there will be a more concentrated point of impact on the head. Epidemiological survey of head and neck injuries and trauma in the . Although this may sound like wordsmithery, it could have a profound effect on a trial. Forensic Autopsy of Blunt Force Trauma. For example, a thin metal pipe striking some part of the body would be expected to inflict greater localized injuries than a broad board of similar mass and velocity striking the same part of the body. Considering an example of a 55-year-old man suffering from injuries after falling from a height. I'm asking purely for science, not practicality. Proper treatment and management of trauma are crucial in ensuring the best possible outcome for those who have sustained a blunt trauma injury. The object may leave a patterned injury or there may be no evidence of injury at all, in which case, one would need to rely on scene investigation, witness statements, and other sources to determine the cause of death. I am reviewing a very bad paper - do I have to be nice. The severity of injuries inflicted as a result of blunt force trauma is dependent on the amount of kinetic energy transferred and the tissue to which the energy is transferred. Long story short: Punching someone in the head is a bad idea, unless they pose a very direct threat to you; and you mean to incapacitate them; and you don't mind said incapacitation being potentially permanent (to the point of death). Blunt force trauma also produces cast-off blood spatter as blood is thrown from the weapon as it is raised and then brought down on the victim each additional time. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas; 2006. FP Sports May 16, 2020 13:02:45 IST Extensive fractures involving the base of skull. 2019 Mar 1. [22]. Blunt force trauma with objects found at the home. It is important to understand that the designated manner of death in such scenarios must include the causal factor that made the decedent susceptible to the disease state, namely the underlying injury which initiated the chain of events ultimately leading to death. Currently, there is no firm, scientific evidence that abrasions and contusions can be dated microscopically with a high degree of accuracy; In a case reported in the Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shocks, a 45-year-old man was involved in a car crash. Pathophysiology. J Scott Denton, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria; Forensic Pathologist and Illinois Coroners Physician Blunt cardiac injury (BCI), defined as an injury to the heart from blunt force trauma, ranges from minor to life-threatening. Cuts, also called incised wounds, are clean-edged, sharp force injuries resulting from a sharp edge being sliced across the skin. Unable to identify a muscle of the anterior thorax. Most autopsies of deaths resulting from blunt force injuries do not require additional ancillary studies, because the cause and manner of death can be ascertained from the standard autopsy and, when necessary, special dissections. There could be injuries to internal organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, or brain, ranging from minor abrasions to traumatic bleeding and shock to an organ. This type of injury or trauma can occur to any part. It only takes a minute to sign up. Various mechanisms, including falls, can cause lacerations, blows to the body, and motor vehicle crashes. Blunt trauma to the head and neck, on the other hand, almost always results in a series of characteristic blood spatter patterns. A radiograph of the right arm was ordered, revealing a radius fracture. In some cases, physical assault may involve using weapons, such as knives or firearms, resulting in penetrating trauma to the head, neck, or chest. When generating the autopsy report, it is often best to divide the description of injuries into subsections for the head and neck, trunk, and extremities. 2009 Mar. These abrasions are caused by dragging or scraping the surface of the skin against a rugged surface; they are most often encountered when a body slides on pavement. Histologic examination is generally not as important as gross impressions in the evaluation of blunt force injuries. High-impact sports and activities like football, hockey, gymnastics, and soccer can result in a significant risk of blunt trauma. Mongolian spot on the buttocks. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Furthermore, one should describe the injuries "from the outside in." Read this article to understand the concept. Forensic Autopsy of Blunt Force Trauma. Both individual and external variables as well as the extent of injury influence the progress of repair. There are two primary paths to death when whacking someone over the head: trauma to the brain, and trauma to the spine. A Mongolian spot should have no hemorrhage, whereas with a contusion, hemorrhage will be present in the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The effects of blunt force head trauma include: Physical ailments They come in the form of headaches, fatigue and sensory changes. Abrasions are often seen in cases of falls, especially in children and elderly individuals. Int J Legal Med. Withdrawing a paper after acceptance modulo revisions? Like any other medical condition, blunt trauma also results in some significant symptoms that must not be ignored. The typical signs of blunt force trauma include lacerated major blood vessels or aorta, lacerated or crushed organs, hematoma, crushed or severed spinal cord or fractures of the skull. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Lacerations are blunt trauma resulting from tearing the skin and underlying tissues. Blunt trauma refers to injury of the body by forceful impact with a dull object. Blunt abdominal trauma can occur from motor vehicle accidents, falls, and physical assaults. A person in a car accident may experience swelling in their chest, indicating the presence of internal bleeding or a rib fracture. Medical professionals use the following diagnosis tools and tactics to evaluate the trauma: Physical examination is essential for evaluating and managing blunt trauma patients. Even very slight trauma such as might be caused by brushing against a door can lead to senile purpura. Postmortem artifacts made by ants and the effect of ant activity on decompositional rates. Some types of damage that might occur include fractures, internal organ damage, lacerations, bruising, and pressure-related injuries. Brush-burn abrasions are broad, dried abrasions that often have a yellow-orange or orange-red coloration. They may range from only general overall body photos without detailed photos of injuries in a death resulting from a motor vehicle collision, to much more extensive photography in a death involving suspected child abuse. Individual injuries may be patterned (eg, characteristics of the wound suggest a particular type of blunt object) or nonspecific. Histopathology of healing abrasions. Penetrating traumawhen an object pierces the skin or body, usually creating an open wound. Forensic Autopsy of Blunt Force Trauma. The Single Most Effective Productivity Tip From 22 Experts. When the head is struck by a hard object the cerebral cortex (gray matter) can become bruised. The coagulation studies showed a prolonged prothrombin time (PT), a sign of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), where abnormal clotting occurs throughout the body. Blunt force injury. Such patterns may be of importance in identifying a weapon used in an assault or in identifying a tire or other part of a vehicle that strikes a body during a hit-and-run collision. Moreover, it is essential to note that the psychological effects of blunt trauma should not be overlooked, and patients may require psychological counseling and support. If it hit your hand, it would rip your hand off. One finding that an inexperienced pathologist, investigator, or clinician may misinterpret for a contusion is the so-called Mongolian spot. Forensic Autopsy of Blunt Force Trauma. Abrasions, or scrapes, are blunt trauma from the skin rubbed or scraped against a rough surface. There can also be skull fractures or penetrating trauma. Byard RW, Wick R, Gilbert JD, Donald T. Histologic dating of bruises in moribund infants and young children. The tension of the seatbelt during an automotive collision can result in blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen, which can lead to internal organ injuries. [5]. Rib fractures exposed after peeling away the parietal pleura. Equally important, however, are the characteristics of the blunt object and the surface that is impacted. Some examples include speech problems, internal bleeding of the brain, chronic headaches, loss of vision, loss of taste, loss of smell, comas, etc. No further specific changes occur in the form of headaches, fatigue and sensory.. Share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search vehicle crash history, CT! 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