Retrospective study on skin reddenings and petechiae in the eyelids and the conjunctivae in forensic physical examinations.
Skin reddening with or without additional changes such as pinpoint intracutaneous hemorrhages and/or minute superficial scratches was observed in 165 out of 739 physical examinations (reddening with additional changes: n = 81; reddening only: n = 84). The most common site where reddening was observed was the neck region (reddening with additional changes: n = 30; reddening only: n = 34). In over 85% of the cases, the postinfliction interval (Pi) was < or = 1 day, and there were 12 and 10 cases with 1 < Pi < or = 3 days, respectively. Among these 22 cases, there were 5 cases with 2 < Pi < or = 3 days, (reddening with additional changes: n = 4; reddening only: n = 1). The maximum Pis were almost 3 days, and 2 days and 13 h, respectively. These results demonstrate that reddening of the skin with and that without additional changes (in particular petechiae) were detectable up to approximately 3 and 2 days after the event, respectively. Furthermore, in 17 out of 64 cases with reddening in the neck, petechial hemorrhages were seen in the eyelids and/or conjunctivae (reddening with additional changes: n = 10; reddening only: n = 7). The maximum Pi in which petechial hemorrhages were detectable in the eyelids and/or the palpebral conjunctivae was 1 day and 21 h. The present study indicates that physical examinations within 2 or 3 days after the event seem to be more suitable to find skin reddening and/or petechiae in the eye lids and/or the conjunctivae.
Kondo
T
T
Department of Legal Medicine, Kanazawa University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
Betz
P
P
Eisenmenger
W
W
D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002423:Cause of Death; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D004890:Erythema / Q000473:pathology*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011693:Purpura / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence