Effect of examination findings on forensic report results in traumatic cutaneous-subcutaneous tissue injuries: a retrospective study
Gulhane Medical Journal, cilt.67, sa.2, ss.101-107, 2025 (Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 67 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.4274/gulhane.galenos.2025.70487
- Dergi Adı: Gulhane Medical Journal
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, EMBASE, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.101-107
- Anahtar Kelimeler: examination findings, forensic report, Soft tissue injuries
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Aims: Accurate recording of the findings obtained during the first examination of forensic cases is of great importance for the forensic reports to be prepared afterwards. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference between the initial and final examination of cutaneous injuries after trauma, and how this difference affects the result of the forensic report. Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective analysis based on forensic reports prepared between January 1, 2020, and July 20, 2024, at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Türkiye. A total of 1,221 cases with cutaneous-subcutaneous traumatic tissue injuries were eligible for inclusion in the study. Results: Of the 1,221 cases, 84.1% were male and the mean age was 36.7 years. 51.9% (n=634) of the injuries were “NOT MILD enough to be resolved with simple medical intervention”, and the injury was considered to be a facial fixed scar in 3.3% of cases. In 239 of the 365 cases re-examined some discrepancies in lesion size were found; the size of the lesions was smaller than indicated in the medical records in 65.9%, while it was larger in 34.1% of these cases. These differences in lesion size were found to change the outcome of the forensic report in 28 cases (χ2 = 617.24, p<0.001). Conclusions: Our study revealed that the majority of physicians inaccurately reported the wound sizes of forensic cases, either as larger or smaller than they actually were. Since this situation will change the outcome of the forensic report and impact the judgment process, victimization will be inevitable. In order not to cause any victimisation in forensic cases, physicians should prepare a report using metric measuring instruments for the dimensions of cutaneous lesions in physical examination.