Sharp Trauma

Abstract

Sharp trauma injuries are inflicted by different kinds of tools, but definitely the most popular crime weapon in such cases is the knife. Cut wounds and stab wounds are mainly related to suicides and homicides. In a considerable number of cases, a combination of both cut and stab wounds can be inflicted by the change of the weapon position while it is inside the body. Incised wounds are mostly related to self-inflicted injuries. In contrast, a case with stab wounds is more likely to be a homicide. Depending on the geographic area, stab wounds can be the most common homicidal injuries, especially in domestic homicide cases. A detailed and objective autopsy report has great value in documenting a case, particularly in a homicide investigation. By using postmortem imaging to show important aspects of findings, we have the opportunity to improve the reconstruction and understanding of the event. To visualize multiple stab wounds and the injuries that they have caused, whole body angiography techniques are valuable tools. Today’s most commonly applied technique of multiphase postmortem CT angiography (MPMCTA) can enhance visualization of soft-tissue damage and is useful for locating internal organs and blood vessel injuries, which can be important for estimating an injury track. Additionally, with application of this standardized technique, the trajectory of stab wounds can be directly visualized by the enhancement provided by the injected contrast agent. Therefore, this approach is applied regularly with such cases in our centers. This chapter illustrates the use and performance of MPMCTA in investigating cases of sharp trauma.