ESTABLISHMENT OF MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF STAB INJURIES TO THE RIBS CAUSED BY A KNIFE WITH A BLADE SPINE THICKNESS OF 0.1 CM. AUTHORS

Abstract

Objective: Determination of the morphological features of stab injuries caused by a knife with a blade spine thickness of 0.1 cm, at various angles of impact relative to the lamellar structure of the rib. Materials and methods: The study is experimental. Injuries were inflicted perpendicularly to the plane of the rib, to a depth of 5.4 cm, with a knife having a blade spine thickness at the level of penetration of 0.1 cm. The subjects of the study were the anterior sections of ribs 4-6 of individuals of both sexes, predominantly male, aged from 18 to 59 years, which is based on an experimental literature of cutting and stubbing injuries review. In total, 60 experiments were conducted, with 20 injuries each inflicted longitudinally, obliquely, and transversely to the rib lamellar structure. Results: In the macroscopic examination of injuries inflicted at various angles to the lines of the compact layer's lamellar structure, linear-slit-shaped injuries were registered on the external compact plate. When oriented longitudinally in relation to the long axis of the bone, arcuate-slit-shaped injuries were also observed. When a split crack was formed in the blade-spine zone, the crack formed from one of the corners of the blunt end of the injury, extending longitudinally and obliquely along the bone's lamellar structure, with some deviation towards the edge of the bone nearest to the injury. Conclusions: The study identified statistically significant specific morphological features of stab injuries to the ribs caused by a knife with a blade spine thickness of 0.1 cm, taking into account the lamellar structure of the bone tissue, which allows to draw conclusion about the knife's blade spine thickness.