The possibilities of diagnosing stab-cut wounds in living persons using the results of computed tomography

Abstract

Background. Currently, such modern research methods as computer and magnetic resonance imaging (hereinafter CT and MRI) have been introduced into the medical and diagnostic practice of large hospitals. These research methods are used almost everywhere for the diagnosis of various types of injuries, and their results, together with the medical documents of the victims, law enforcement officials and courts provide to state forensic medical expert institutions for the production of forensic medical examinations. The study of CT and MRI results allows solving expert questions in cases of examinations and studies of living persons. Case presentation. The article presents a case from expert practice demonstrating the possibility of establishing the morphology and localization of stab-cut injuries, the number of traumatic effects and the direction of wound channels using the results of in vivo CT and using three-dimensional modeling. In the described expert case, initially in the submitted medical documents there were contradictory information about the number, localization and mechanism of formation of wounds inflicted on the victim. To eliminate the existing contradictions, the scars on the victim's body were examined, as well as the results of a CT scan performed on the victim in a medical institution upon admission. For a more complete visualization of external injuries, a three-dimensional model of the victim's body was recreated from CT data. As a result of the conducted research using the results of CT and three-dimensional modeling, it was possible to clearly recreate the picture of the injuries that the victim had and answer questions about the mechanism and conditions of their infliction. Conclusion. The described case demonstrates the possibilities of expert research and new methodological approaches to solving forensic problems, which is currently quite relevant, since virtopsia has been actively developing in forensic medicine in recent years. The research techniques described in the article may well be applied to a corpse with stab wounds, which will probably make it possible to more accurately visualize the direction and shape of the wound canal.