Injuries and Accidents | Things you need to know | QuadBloggers

Injuries and Accidents are two of the common terms that describe various ailments that affect ones ability.

How do you describe an injury( Injuries and Accidents ) ?

• An injury is any harm, whatever illegally caused to any individual of mind, body, property or reputation.
• A break in the natural continuity of tissues all in all.

What are the types of injuries( Injuries and Accidents ) ?

A) Mechanical injury:

• Due to sharp force
• Chop wounds
• Stab wounds
• Abrasion
• Contusion
• Laceration

B) Chemical injury:

• Acids
• Alkali

C) Thermal injury:

• Heat
• Burns
• Frostbite

D) Others:

• Electricity
• X-ray
• Lightening
• Explosions

How do you describe important injuries ?

1) Abrasions:

• Defined by destruction of the superficial layer of the skin.
• Furthermore, it is caused by friction or compression against a rough surface area.
• Characteristics of an abrasion:
  • Bleed slightly
  • No scar formation seen
  • Heals rapidly
• Types of abrasions :
  • Scratches
  • Grazes- Movement between skin with contact from a rough surface
  • Pressure abrasion – Caused due to crushing of superficial layers of the skin
  • Impact abrasion- Caused due to a force with a rough object or surface
  • Patterned abrasion
• Age and time:
  • A fresh abrasion is bright red in color
  • Stays from 12 to 24 hours
  • Forms a scab due to drying of blood and lymph
  • After a period of 2 to 4 days simultaneously it turns reddish brown scab
  • After a period of 5 to 7 days it turns dark brown to black scab
  • Additionally, the scab falls off and dries after 7 days

2) Contusion:

• It occurs due to rupture of blood vessels which leads to leaking of blood into the tissues
• Furthermore, caused by trauma like stone, fist, whip, bar, hammer and more
• Location:
  • Contusions occur not only in the skin, but also internal organs like lungs, brain, muscles and heart
• Characteristics of a contusion:
  • Swelling that’s painful
  • Tearing sensation of tissues with no involvement of skin damage
  • Bruises, all in all
• Factors that alter size and shape:
  • Women bruise quite easily when compared to men because of increased superficial fat
  • Children are more prone to bruises due to soft and loose tissues
  • Diseased stage of vessels lead to bruises
• Complications:
  • Shock
  • Internal hemorrhage
  • Gangrene and death of tissue

3) Lacerations:

• Lacerations are tear in the skin, mucous membranes or internal organs caused by a blunt force
• When a blunt force is acted upon the body, it leads to displacement of the tissues
• Causes:
  • Blows by a blunt object or fall from an object
  • Contused lacerations are caused simultaneously due force that leads to spreading of the blood to adjacent tissues.
• Types:
  • 1) Split lacerations:
    • Crushing of the skin occurring in between 2 hard objects that results in splitting
  • 2) Stretch lacerations:
    • Overstretching of the skin when fixed
  • 3) Avulsion:
    • Laceration produced by sufficient force
  • 4) Tears:
    • Tearing of the skin or soft tissue due to an impact from sharp objects
  • 5) Cut lacerations:
    • Sharp edged objects such as axe leads to cut lacerations
    • Margins of cut lacerations are irregular, blunt, uneven

4) Wounds (Injuries and Accidents):

• It is caused by a mechanical force which may be a moving object or weapon

A) Incised wound:

• A clean cut simultaneously, caused through the tissues including the skin and blood vessels by a sharp edged object.
• Characteristics:
  • Edges are clean cut, everted and well defined hence appear incised.
  • Hemorrhage is more commonly seen
  • Width is greater than the thickness of the edge of the weapon for an incised wound
  • Oblique cut occurs when a weapon cute through the skin obliquely leading to incised wound.
  • Incised wounds usually appear spindle shaped all in all
• Age of incised wound:
  • Incised wounds appear in about 12 to 24 hours
  • Additionally, Edges appear red, swollen with inflammation
  • Scab of dried clot is seen

B) Suicidal wounds (Injuries and Accidents):

• These wounds occur in the left side of the neck, passing through the front of the throat hence affecting one part of neck.
• Simultaneously, Edges usually ragged affecting the superficial layers
• Meanwhile, Multiple wounds mite be seen around 20 to 40 wounds
• Usually less severe
• Additionally, Carotid artery is usually saved from injury
• Wounds usually occurs above the thyroid cartilage

C) Homicidal wounds:

• Affects the neck passing through the throat and both sides
• Additionally, Wound usually occurs below the thyroid cartilage
• Simultaneously, Multiple wounds occur
• Meanwhile, Wounds are sharp and clean with oblique cuts are seen
• Carotid artery and jugular veins usually cut all in all

D) Stab wounds:

• A stab wound is produced from the sharp edge of the knife or sword into the body
• Wound is deeper than the width and length on the skin
• Types:
  • Puncture wounds
  • Perforating wounds
  • Penetrating wounds
• Characteristics of the wound:
  • The wound edges, usually clean cut and inverted.
  • Abrasions and bruising meanwhile produced when the knife enters the body thereby tearing and crushing the tissues

Furthermore, For more details please read this book : Essentials of forensic medicine

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