title: Artifact from an electrosurgical ground pad.
abstract: Artifacts from medical intervention are frequently present in medicolegal autopsies and must be distinguished from injuries of forensic interest, particularly in deaths from trauma. In this case, burns resulting from incomplete skin contact of an electrosurgical ground pad during surgery for multiple gunshot wounds were initially confused with abrasions caused by impact of bullet fragments. Inspection of the decedent's clothing and of the medical records revealed the true etiology of this injury.
authors.affiliation: Bexar County Forensic Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Revercomb
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology