Alberto Amadasi , Lorenzo Franceschetti , Julia Babigian , Antonia Locatelli , Larissa Amadasi
{"title":"Between blunt, sharp and hacking trauma: Observing the characteristics of pickaxe injuries","authors":"Alberto Amadasi , Lorenzo Franceschetti , Julia Babigian , Antonia Locatelli , Larissa Amadasi","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102763","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pickaxe injuries have never been thoroughly investigated in forensic science. This case, involving the fatal wounding of a 28-year-old individual by pickaxe blows to the head, abdomen, and hand, highlights the unique injury patterns associated with such an instrument. The injuries observed in the frontal skull exhibited characteristics akin to typical chop wounds, while those on the parietal skull bore similarities to blunt force trauma. The pickaxe penetrated the hands and the abdomen, with the depth of penetration directly correlating to the force applied. Consequently, pickaxe injuries can be considered a hybrid of different injury mechanisms, a fact that should be carefully considered in forensic analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"107 ","pages":"Article 102763"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1752928X24001252","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MEDICINE, LEGAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Pickaxe injuries have never been thoroughly investigated in forensic science. This case, involving the fatal wounding of a 28-year-old individual by pickaxe blows to the head, abdomen, and hand, highlights the unique injury patterns associated with such an instrument. The injuries observed in the frontal skull exhibited characteristics akin to typical chop wounds, while those on the parietal skull bore similarities to blunt force trauma. The pickaxe penetrated the hands and the abdomen, with the depth of penetration directly correlating to the force applied. Consequently, pickaxe injuries can be considered a hybrid of different injury mechanisms, a fact that should be carefully considered in forensic analysis.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine publishes topical articles on aspects of forensic and legal medicine. Specifically the Journal supports research that explores the medical principles of care and forensic assessment of individuals, whether adult or child, in contact with the judicial system. It is a fully peer-review hybrid journal with a broad international perspective.
The Journal accepts submissions of original research, review articles, and pertinent case studies, editorials, and commentaries in relevant areas of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Context of Practice, and Education and Training.
The Journal adheres to strict publication ethical guidelines, and actively supports a culture of inclusive and representative publication.