Stab Wound in United Kingdom

The identification and description of wounds may have serious medico-legal implications. Studies have shown that doctors incorrectly identify common wounds and injuries (Jones 2003; Reijnders et al 2005; Bajanowski et al 2001).

Stab Wound in Forensic Medicine

In the category of sharp force traumas, stab wounds are incised wounds where the length of injury on the surface is less than the depth of penetration into the body, and are the result of a thrusting action, where the force is delivered along the long axis of a narrow, pointed object. The force of impact is concentrated at the tip of the implement, and the sharper the tip, the easier it will penetrate the skin. The weapons of choice in the majority of assaults – both domestic and ‘on-the-street’ include lock knives, sheaf knives and kitchen knives.

Stab Wound and patterns of sharp force trauma

In the context of sharp force trauma, defence wounds obtained whilst fending off an assailant with a knife are typically found on the dorsum of the hand and backs of the forearms (ulnar border).

In the pathology of sharp force trauma, incised wounds caused by any implement or object having a sharp edge can include knives and broken glass, for example.

Resources

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