title: Specific Characteristics of Injuries Inflicted by Claw Hammer.
abstract: Claw hammers have the specific characteristic of having two distinct ends: one a flat head of variable form, the other bifurcated. So the use of this tool as a blunt instrument will cause varying injuries. The authors present two clinical cases of assault with a claw hammer. Examinations revealed two types of wound. A first injury composed of integumentary lacerations and underlying bone injuries in terms of "shape" suggested the use of a blunt instrument. A second injury made up of damage showing two parallel wounds or two wounds located one in the extension of the other suggested the use of an object with a bifurcated end. The combination of both types of injury should alert examiners to the possibility of the use of a claw hammer in causing the injuries in order to help direct investigators in their investigations and in the search for the weapon used.
authors.affiliation: University of Angers, Angers, F-49035, France. celine.buchaillet@chu-angers.fr.|Forensic Medicine and Prison Healthcare Department, Angers University Hospital, 4 rue Larrey, Angers cedex 09, F-49933, France. celine.buchaillet@chu-angers.fr.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buchaillet
authors.affiliation: University of Angers, Angers, F-49035, France.|Forensic Medicine and Prison Healthcare Department, Angers University Hospital, 4 rue Larrey, Angers cedex 09, F-49933, France.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaudin
authors.affiliation: University of Angers, Angers, F-49035, France.|Forensic Medicine and Prison Healthcare Department, Angers University Hospital, 4 rue Larrey, Angers cedex 09, F-49933, France.|UNAM (University of Nantes, Angers and Le Mans) Angers University, 40 rue de Rennes, BP 73532, Angers cedex 01, 49035, France.
authors.forename: Clotilde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rougé-Maillart
authors.affiliation: University of Angers, Angers, F-49035, France.|Forensic Medicine and Prison Healthcare Department, Angers University Hospital, 4 rue Larrey, Angers cedex 09, F-49933, France.|UNAM (University of Nantes, Angers and Le Mans) Angers University, 40 rue de Rennes, BP 73532, Angers cedex 01, 49035, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jousset
mesh_terms: D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating
keywords: blunt instrument; blunt trauma; claw hammer; depressed fracture; forensic medicine; forensic science; laceration