Sharp Edged and Pointed Instrument Injuries

In this article we will discuss those injuries produced by sharp-edged instruments, incised wounds, and pointed instruments with a sharp-edge or edges, stab wounds.  This will be followed by a review of those injuries produced by instruments, which do not have a sharp-edge, but have a blunt point, such as found in barbecue forks, dinner forks, screwdrivers and scissors.  Chop wounds and impaled injuries will be discussed.  Mechanism and manner of death will then be reviewed.  Fundamental concepts such as cardiac tamponade will be explained, as well as the function of various cellular structures, such as neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes, in the inflammatory reaction to trauma.  There is a detailed review of the chronological histologic features of dating of incised and stab wounds, the purpose of which is to show there is sound scientific basis for the histologic dating of these injuries.

Sharp Edged and Pointed Instrument Injuries