Forensic Nurse Consultants see many types of injuries when they are evaluating cases. It is important to know the specific type of injury when reviewing cases.
Some of the more common types of wounds are:
🔴 Incision: Clean, straight cuts typically caused by sharp objects where length is usually greater than depth
🔴 Laceration: Irregular tear-like wounds caused by blunt force or trauma
🔴 Abrasion: Superficial wounds resulting from friction or rubbing of the skin’s surface
🔴 Puncture: Small but deep wounds typically caused by sharp, pointed objects where depth is usually greater than length
🔴 Contusion (AKA bruise): When small blood vessels are torn and leak blood under the skin
🔴 Thermal, chemical, or electrical burns: Skin tissue damage caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, etc.
🔴 Penetrating wounds: Injuries that extend into internal organs or body cavities
🔴 Skin ulcers: A type of chronic sore where the skin layers “break down”
🔴 Avulsion: When a body part is torn off by trauma
🔴 Hematoma: A collection of blood that forms outside of the blood vessels
🔴 Fracture: A break or crack in the bone
It is ESSENTIAL to document the specific identifying characteristics of each wound including:
🔷 Location: The wound’s position on the body can provide insights into the assault or criminal acts
🔷 Pattern and Shape: The wound’s shape, edges, and any visible patterns can help identify potential weapons or objects involved
🔷 Depth: The wound's depth can help assess the weapon, the assailant/size of the suspect, etc.
🔷 Contamination: Detecting foreign materials (e.g., dirt, debris, or clothing fibers) within the wound can provide clues about the circumstances, location, etc. of the crime
🔷 Bruising: Forensic nurses look for bruising to understand the force applied during the injury
🔷 Healing Stage: Evaluating the "freshness" of the wound can help determine when the wound occurred
❗ Photographic Documentation is ESSENTIAL to accurately record the wound and can be used in legal proceedings
Forensic nurses collaborate with law enforcement, attorneys, and other professionals to build a comprehensive picture of the injury. 🕵️♀️🔍
