Citation

Prahlow JA, Ross KF, Lene WJ, Kirby DB. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2001; 22(4): 358-366.

Affiliation

South Bend Medical Foundation and Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend Center for Medical Education at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana 46601, USA. jprahlow@sbmflab.org

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11764902

Abstract

The authors review all accidental sharp force injury deaths investigated at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences from 1990 to 1999. Twenty-two cases of accidental sharp force injury were identified, accounting for 0.29% of all accidental deaths (9,562) during the 10-year study period. Included in this series are 5 incised wounds, 11 stab wounds, 4 chop wounds, and 2 deaths caused by dog attacks. About half of the cases involved some type of motorized machinery. The victims' ages ranged from 2 years to 71 years, with most deaths occurring in older teenagers and younger adults. Male subjects (17) were involved much more frequently than female subjects (5). In 50% of the cases, ethanol or other drug use was a possible underlying contributing factor in the accident. The cases are briefly reviewed, and the importance of detailed investigation in manner-of-death certification is emphasized.

Language: en