A break in the skin may occur after either a sharp or blunt force injury. Features of the wound can help distinguish between these 2 types of injury.
Parameters:
(1) linearity
(2) edge of wound
(3) undermining
(4) bridging of wound by subcutaneous nerves and vessels
(5) bruising
(6) other features
Parameters |
Sharp |
Blunt Force |
linearity |
straight |
irregular |
edge of the wound |
sharp with non-abraded edges |
torn, ragged |
undermining |
none or minimal |
mild to marked |
bridging |
none |
present |
bruising |
usually none |
often present |
other features |
wound deeper than long (unless sword) |
usually occur over an underlying bone |
where:
• Bruising in a sharp wound may be caused by the hilt of a knife or the fist holding the knife.
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory, Emergency Medicine, Surgery, general