CLINICAL SKILL HANDOUT

FORENSIC MEDICINE AND MEDICOLEGAL

Clinical Skill Lab Forensic Medicine-Medicolegal

Medical Faculty of Hasanuddin University
Makassar
2012
TABLE OF CONTENT

Handout Cover
Table of Content ..................................................................................................... 1
Preface ................................................................................................................... 2
Wound Examination (theoretical background) ....................................................... 3
Learning Objective .................................................................................................. 6
Learning Strategies ................................................................................................. 7
Body Sketch ........................................................................................................... 8
Wound Examination Procedure ............................................................................. 11
Evaluation ............................................................................................................... 15
Reference ................................................................................................................

PREFACE

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After graduation, any doctor may encounter to examine a person who has been
wounded, particularly if it involve casualty. The condition of the wound may be trivial or
serious and the injured person may be alive or dead. Therefore, it is utmost important for
a doctor to have the ability to conduct identification and description of wounds, which may
have serious medico-legal implications at a later stage. Because of that, it is essential
that different types of wounds should be scrutinized correctly and identified as well as
described, with a full description being made in notes and photographs taken at the time
of the examination.
This Clinical Skill Handout is design for medical student in Forensic Medicine and
Medico legal. The major objective of this manual is that the student can master the skill of
assessing and documenting different types of wounds and later reporting those finding in
a Visum et Repertum report.
We would like to appreciate to all contributors who have helped in compiling this
Clinical Skill Manual.

Makassar, 1 October 2010

Coordinator of Clinical Skill Lab
Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal

Forensic Medicine-Medicolegal

WOUND EXAMINATION
IN FORENSIC MEDICINE AND MEDICOLEGAL

CLASSIFICATION OF WOUNDS
The identification and description of wounds may have serious medico-legal implications
at a later stage, and often after some considerable time has passed since the wounding.
It is therefore essential that different types of wounds can be correctly identified and
described, with a full description being made in notes taken at the time of, or shortly after
the examination ('contemporaneous notes').
A wound is the term given to tissue damage caused by mechanical force (also called
injury or trauma). This includes wounds caused by stabbing, blunt trauma (punching,
kicking, beating etc), strangling, biting, shooting, falling from a height, being hit by a
vehicle, and blast trauma from explosives.
Descriptions of wounds should include:
-

the nature of the wound, i.e. whether it is a bruise, abrasion or laceration etc

the wound dimensions, e.g. length, width, depth etc. It is helpful to take a
photograph of the wound with an indication of dimension (e.g. a tape measure
placed next to the wound), and for measurements to be taken of the wound as it
appears first, and then with wound edges drawn together (if it is a laceration etc).

the position of the wound in relation to fixed anatomical landmarks, e.g. distance
from the midline, below the clavicle etc.

the height of the wound from the heel (i.e. ground level) - this is particularly
important in cases where pedestrians have been struck by motor vehicles

The main types of wounds that often found in our daily life, including
-

abrasions

Forensic Medicine-Medicolegal

bruises/ contusions

lacerations

incised wounds

stab wounds

fractures

bite marks

defense injuries

Abrasions (Scrapes)
An abrasion is denuded skin caused by friction. A wound may be either deep or
superficial depending on the force and the coarseness of the surface which caused the
abrasion. A person who slides across pavement might have a deeper and rougher wound
than a person who slides across a rug. Occasionally, the direction of the force can be
determined. If one end of a wound has margins with raised skin, for example, the force
originated from the opposite side.
Contusions (Bruises)
Contusions are discolorations of the skin caused by bleeding into the tissues from
ruptured blood vessels. In general, the older a person, the easier the vessels will rupture.
There is no way, however, to determine exactly how much force is needed to produce a
contusion. The age of a contusion is difficult to determine because of the great variability
of a bodys reaction to trauma. People with blood disorders and liver disease may
develop more severe contusions than healthy individuals. As healing occurs, a contusion
changes color from blue or red, to red-blue, to green, to brown, and finally yellow. These
color changes, however, may appear out of order and may overlap. There is no way to
know how long each color stage will last. Occasionally a recent contusion will have a
brown tinge.

Forensic Medicine-Medicolegal

Lacerations (Tears)
Tears of the skin from blunt trauma are called lacerations. Many tears are associated with
both contusions and abrasions. For example, a blow to the head with ahammer may
cause tearing of the scalp with adjacent abrasions. If blood escapes into the surrounding
tissues, the skin can also be bruised. A laceration must be distinguished from a cutting
injury. A laceration usually has bridges of tissue connecting one side of the wound to the
other. Cutting and incised wounds have no tissue bridges because a sharp object cuts
the wound cleanly from the top to the bottom of the wound.
Deaths due to blunt trauma may have some or none of the above external signs of
trauma. This is particularly true of fatal blows to the abdomen.
Blunt trauma to the head
Blunt trauma to the scalp and face can produce contusions, lacerations, and abrasions.
However, there may be no external signs of trauma to the head if a person has a full head
of hair. Obvious external injuries are not necessary for a death to be caused by head
trauma. Occasionally, the weapon leaves a characteristic identifyingpattern on the scalp.
Unfortunately, this is the exception rather than the rule.
Battles sign a bluish discoloration of the skin behind the ear that occurs from blood
leaking under the scalp after a skull fracture.
Spectacle hemorrhage (raccoons eyes) a discoloration of the tissues around the
eyes usually due to a fracture of the skull. The hemorrhages may involve one or both
eyes and may be mistakenly interpreted that the decedent had been struck about the
face and eyes. When a person receives a significant blow to the head there will be
bleeding under the scalp even if there are no external injuries. Depending on the amount
of force there may be skull fractures. There are many different types of skull fractures;
however, the specific type is not as important as recognizing a pattern such as a circular
fracture caused by a hammer.

Forensic Medicine-Medicolegal

LEARNING OBJECTIVE
General Objective
After conducting the skills in this manual, students are expected to be able to
master the skill of assessing and documenting different types of wounds and later
reporting those finding in a Visum et Repertum report.
Spesific Objective
After finishing the skills training in this manual, students are expected to be able to
conduct :
1. Proper observation and identification skill
2. Correct sketching of the location of the wound with respect to the human anatomy
markers.
3. Documenting / make record regarding the characteristic and location of the wound
for further reconstruction.
4. Correct identification of the object / weapon that cause the injury using the
characteristic of the wound.
5. Proper report of the assesment result

Forensic Medicine-Medicolegal

LEARNING STRATEGIES
Instruments and Tools :
-

Manual book of CSL for wound

Handscoen / Surgical gloves

Standart measurement / Ruler

Surgical Tapes

Patient status (body sketch), ballpoint

Audio-visual / Digital Camera

Learning Method :
1. Demonstration due to manual book
2. Discusssion
3. Active participation (simulation)
4. Evaluation using check list

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Body Sketch

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Wound Examination Procedure for LIVING VICTIM

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No
1

Activity
Check all the administration and the equipment required:
a. External examination request letter (SPV)
b. Signed informed consent
c. Body chart / body sketch
d. Body label (big and small)
e. Material label (big and small)
f. Pen
g. Digital camera
h. Handscoen (gloves)
i. Measurement standart
Write down the required information from the external examination
request letter (SPV) to the body label and to the body chart:
a. Police request number
b. Victims name / age
c. Case register number
d. Examiner name
e. Examiner ID number
f. Date of the examination
g. Time of the examination

Wear the surgical gloves (handscoen)

Documenting the body by means of photography

I.
Whole body document the damage and absence of damage
- Taken with the victim standing (if possible) in front of a blue
screen background with big body label attached to
measurement standart beside the victim.
- Picture contain whole body from head to toe ([a]front and
[b]back)
- Camera positioned paralel to the victims center of gravity
II.
Regional document the damage with the surrounding tissue
- Taken with the camera positioned perpendicular at least 50 cm
from the body
- Picture contain body anatomical marker, point of interest, small
body label and measurement standart
III.
Close Up document the damage
- Taken with the camera positioned perpendicular at least 25 cm
from the body
- Picture contain point of interest, small body label and
measurement standart
Documenting the material of interest (torn clothes, blood spot, etc.)
- Laid out the material of interest on a white surface

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6
7

Take a serial picture of the material

Whole material (big material label, measurement standart) [a]
front [b] back
Point of interest (small material label, measurement standart)
Localize the wound (determine the anatomical region and determine the
damage-wound measurement-wound absis and ordinat) and then draw
them on the body chart
Describe the wound and write it down on the body chart
I.
Number of wound
II.
Type of wound
III.
Location (anatomical region)
IV.
Wound measurement (length and width)
V.
Location (absis and ordinat)
VI.
Wound characteristic
Wound border : shape of wound; wound border even or
serrated; end of wound pointed or blunt
Area inside the wound border : interior slope even or
serrated, type of tissue; tissue bridging; base od wound
Area surrounding the wound border : bruises; blood clot; soot;
tattoage; etc.

Wound Examination Procedure for DECEASED VICTIM

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No
1

Activity
Check all the administration and the equipment required:
a. External / autopsy examination request letter (SPV)
b. Signed Informed Consent (non-obligatory)
c. Body chart
d. Body label (big and small)
e. Material label (big and small)
f. Pen
g. Digital camera
h. Handscoen (gloves)
i. Measurement standard
Write down the required information from the external examination request
letter (SPV) to the body label and to the body chart:
a. Police request number
b. Victims name / age
c. Case register number
d. Examiner name
e. Examiner ID number
f. Date of the examination
g. Time of the examination

Wear the handscoen

Documenting the body by means of photography

I.
Whole body document the damage and absence of damage
- Taken with the victim lie down with big body label attached to
measurement standard beside / on the victim.
- Picture contain whole body from head to toe ([a]front and [b]back)
- Camera positioned paralel to the victims center of gravity,
perpendicular to the body
II.
Regional document the damage with the surrounding tissue
- Taken with the camera positioned perpendicular at least 50 cm
from the body
- Picture contain body anatomical marker, point of interest, small
body label and measurement standard
III.
Close Up document the damage
- Taken with the camera positioned perpendicular at least 25 cm
from the body
- Picture contain point of interest, small body label and measurement
standard
Documenting the material of interest (torn clothes, blood spot, etc.)
- Laid out the material of interest on a white surface
- Take a serial picture of the material

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6
7

Whole material (big material label, measurement standard) [a]

front [b] back
Point of interest (small material label, measurement standard)
Localize the wound (determine the anatomical region and determine the
damage-wound measurement-wound absis and ordinat) and then draw them
on the body chart
Describe the wound and write it down on the body chart
I.
Number of wound
II.
Type of wound
III.
Location (anatomical region)
IV.
Wound measurement (length and width)
V.
Location (absis and ordinat)
VI.
Wound characteristic:
Wound border : shape of wound; wound border even or serrated;
end of wound pointed or blunt
Area inside the wound border : interior slope even or serrated,
type of tissue; tissue bridging; base od wound
Area surrounding the wound border : bruises; blood clot; soot;
tattoage; etc.

Forensic-Medicolegal Clinical Skill Training Check List for Wound Examination on

LIVING VICTIM
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No
1

Activity
Check all the administration and the equipment required:
a. External examin/ation request letter (SPV)
b. Signed Informed Consent
c. Body chart
d. Body label (big and small)
e. Material label (big and small)
f. Pen
g. Digital camera
h. Handscoen (gloves)
i. Measurement standart
Write down the required information from the external
examination request letter (SPV) to the body label and to the
body chart:
a. Police request number
b. Victims name / age
c. Case register number
d. Examiner name
e. Examiner ID number
f. Date of the examination
g. Time of the examination

Wear the handscoen

Documenting the body by means of photography

I.
Whole body document the damage and absence of
damage
- Taken with the victim standing (if possible) in
front of a blue screen with big body label
attached to measurement standart beside the
victim.
- Picture contain whole body from head to toe
([a]front and [b]back)
- Camera positioned paralel to the victims center
of gravity
II.
Regional document the damage with the
surrounding tissue
- Taken with the camera positioned perpendicular
at least 50 cm from the body
- Picture contain body anatomical marker, point of
interest, small body label and measurement
standar
III.
Close Up document the damage

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6
7

Documenting the material of interest (torn clothes, blood

spot, etc.)
- Laid out the material of interest on a white surface
- Take a serial picture of the material
Whole material (big material label, measurement
standart) [a] front [b] back
Point of interest (small material label,
measurement standart)
Localize the wound (determine the anatomical region and
determine the damage-wound measurement-wound absis and
ordinat) and then draw them on the body chart
Describe the wound and write it down on the body chart
I.

Number of wound

II.

Type of wound

III.

Location (anatomical region)

IV.

Wound measurement (length and width)

V.

Location (absis and ordinat)

VI.

1
2
3

Taken with the camera positioned perpendicular

at least 25 cm from the body
Picture contain point of interest, small body label
and measurement standart

Wound characteristic
Wound border : shape of wound; wound border
even or serrated; end of wound pointed or blunt
Area inside the wound border : interior slope
even or serrated, type of tissue; tissue bridging;
base od wound
Area surrounding the wound border : bruises;
blood clot; soot; tattoage; etc.
TOTAL
: not performed
: performed but not complete / perfect
: perfectly performed

Forensic-Medicolegal Clinical Skill Training Check List for Wound Examination on

DECEASED VICTIM

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No
1

Activity
Check all the administration and the equipment required:
a. External / autopsy examination request letter (SPV)
b. Signed Informed Consent (non-obligatory)
c. Body chart
d. Body label (big and small)
e. Material label (big and small)
f. Pen
g. Digital camera
h. Handscoen (gloves)
i. Measurement standard
Write down the information from the external / autopsy
examination request letter (SPV) to the body label and to the
body chart:
a. Police request number
b. Victims name / age
c. Case register number
d. Examiner name
e. Examiner ID number
f. Date of the examination
g. Time of the examination

Wear the handscoen

Documenting the body by means of photography

I.
Whole body document the damage and absence
of damage
- Taken with the victim lie down with big body
label attached to measurement standard beside
the victim.
- Picture contain whole body from head to toe
([a]front and [b]back)
- Camera positioned paralel to the victims center
of gravity, perpendicular to the body
II.
Regional document the damage with the
surrounding tissue
- Taken with the camera positioned perpendicular
at least 50 cm from the body
- Picture contain body anatomical marker, point of
interest, small body label and measurement
standard
III.
-

Close Up document the damage

Taken with the camera positioned perpendicular

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at least 25 cm from the body

Picture contain point of interest, small body label
and measurement standard
Documenting the material of interest (torn clothes, blood
spot, etc.)
- Laid out the material of interest on a white surface
- Take a serial picture of the material
Whole material (big material label, measurement
standard) [a] front [b] back
Point of interest (small material label,
measurement standard)
Localize the wound (determine the anatomical region and
determine the damage-wound measurement-wound absis and
ordinat) and then draw them on the body chart
Describe the wound and write it down on the body chart
-

6
7

I.

Number of wound

II.

Type of wound

III.

Location (anatomical region)

IV.

Wound measurement (length and width)

V.

Location (absis and ordinat)

VI.

Wound characteristic:
Wound border : shape of wound; wound border
even or serrated; end of wound pointed or blunt
Area inside the wound border : interior slope
even or serrated, type of tissue; tissue bridging;
base od wound
Area surrounding the wound border : bruises;
blood clot; soot; tattoage; etc.
TOTAL
1
2
3

: not performed
: performed but not complete / perfect
: perfectly performed

Reference

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Dorlands Ilustrated Medical Dictionary E-Book 32nd edition. Elsevier Health Science.
2011.
Dolinak D, Evan et al. Forensic Pathology Principle and Practice. Elsevier Academic
Press. London. 2005
Skhrum, Micheal J, David A Ramasay et al. Forensic Pathologic of Trauma: Common
Problem for the Pathologist. Human Press. New Jersey. 2007

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