title: Accidental sharp force injury fatalities.
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.
authors.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
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Prahlow
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lene
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kirby
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000401:mortality*; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000453:epidemiology