Hair straightener burns in children: An experimental study originating from 2 cases

IF 2.2 3区医学 Q1 MEDICINE, LEGAL

Forensic science international Pub Date : 2024-10-28 DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112270

Alberto Amadasi , Franziska Schwarz , Luca Berti , Lars Oesterhelweg

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Burns in children are a topic of fundamental importance in the context of the differential diagnosis between accidental events and abuse. In this context, the present study arose from two cases of children with second-degree burns (in case 1 on the leg, in case 2 on the foot) caused by contact with the hot surfaces of a hair straightener, which were reported as accidental events but trough the complete medico-legal investigation later turned out to be abusive burns. With an experimental set on pig skin and by simulating the two anatomical districts (leg and foot), using the same type of hair straightener, injuries were caused by simulating different positions and possible variants of accidental and non-accidental occurrence. The morphology of the injuries confirmed the assessment of child abuse in both cases by “pressing” between the two hot plates of the hair straightener, with almost mirror-like injuries on the inner and outer sides of the skin. Cases of child abuse contact burns with hair straighteners have never been described in the forensic literature, but their widespread diffusion makes knowledge of the characteristics of possible injuries important.

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儿童直发器烫伤：源自两个病例的实验研究。

儿童烧伤是鉴别诊断意外事件和虐待的一个重要课题。在此背景下，本研究源于两例儿童因接触直发器的高温表面而导致的二度烧伤（第一例在腿部，第二例在足部），这两例烧伤被报告为意外事件，但经过完整的医学法律调查后发现是虐待性烧伤。在猪皮上进行实验，模拟两个解剖区域（腿部和脚部），使用相同类型的直发器，通过模拟不同的位置以及意外和非意外发生的可能变体来造成伤害。伤痕的形态证实了对这两种情况下虐待儿童的评估，即在直发器的两块热板之间 "按压"，皮肤的内侧和外侧出现几乎镜面般的伤痕。法医文献中从未描述过用直发器虐待儿童造成接触性烧伤的案例，但由于其广泛传播，了解可能的损伤特征非常重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Forensic science international 医学-医学：法

CiteScore

5.00

自引率

9.10%

发文量

285

审稿时长

49 days

期刊介绍： Forensic Science International is the flagship journal in the prestigious Forensic Science International family, publishing the most innovative, cutting-edge, and influential contributions across the forensic sciences. Fields include: forensic pathology and histochemistry, chemistry, biochemistry and toxicology, biology, serology, odontology, psychiatry, anthropology, digital forensics, the physical sciences, firearms, and document examination, as well as investigations of value to public health in its broadest sense, and the important marginal area where science and medicine interact with the law. The journal publishes: Case Reports Commentaries Letters to the Editor Original Research Papers (Regular Papers) Rapid Communications Review Articles Technical Notes.