Ocular trauma and its consequences in the forensic practice.
OBJECTIVE
The study concentrated on the analysis of patients with ocular lesions which were determined by different situations and were examined by the forensic expert.


METHODS
The cases were examined during 2003-2007, including the appreciation of the gravity of violent lesions.


RESULTS
The results revealed that the most exposed are men with a ratio of 6:1, with an annual average of 10 cases. The main causes were aggression (84% of the cases), traffic accidents (12%), and other (4%). Most cases presented light lesions, 76%, severe lesions in 20% and very severe lesions, including total loss of sight in 4% of the cases. In the cases with severe lesions, the investigations were more thorough, the treatment highly specialized and the legal consequences were harsher. These cases required a follow-up of 6-9-12 months so that the forensic expert could evaluate the damage correctly.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the fact that the majority of ocular traumas are less severe, in the ocular contusive lesions the evolution can be towards aggravation. Some cases which require a closer observation of the cases and the appreciation of the judicial consequences of the visual organ presenting severe ocular trauma.
Enache
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Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Institutul de Medicina Legala, Str. Martir Marius Ciopec nr. 3, 300737 Timisoara, Romania. esanda2000@yahoo.com
Chatzinikolaou
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F
Mercescu
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D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data