Possibilities of diagnosing stab-cut wounds in living persons using computed tomography results

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Abstract

Currently, modern research methods such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have been introduced into the medical and diagnostic practice of large hospitals. These research methods are used almost everywhere for the diagnosis of various injuries, and their results, together with the medical documents of the victims, law enforcement officials, and courts provide state forensic medical expert institutions for the production of forensic medical examinations. The study of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging results allows solving expert questions in examinations and studies of living persons.

The article presents a case from expert practice demonstrating the possibility of establishing the morphology and localization of stab-cut injuries, number of traumatic effects, and direction of wound channels using the results of in vivo computed tomography and three-dimensional modeling. In the described expert case, initially, in the submitted medical documents, data were contradictory about the number, localization and mechanism of formation of wounds. To eliminate existing contradictions, the scars on the victim’s body and results of a computed tomography upon admission were examined. For a more complete visualization of external injuries, a three-dimensional model of the victim’s body was recreated from computed tomography data. The results of computed tomography and three-dimensional modeling made it possible to clearly recreate the picture of the victim’s injuries and answer questions about the mechanism and conditions of their infliction.

The described case demonstrates the possibilities of expert research and new methodological approaches to solving forensic problems, which is currently quite relevant, since virtopsia has been actively developing in forensic medicine in recent years. The proposed research techniques applied to a corpse with stab wounds will make it possible to more accurately visualize the direction and shape of the wound canal.

About the authors

Sergey V. Leonov

Chief State Center for Forensic Medicine and Forensic Expertise 111; Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry named after A.I. Evdokimov

Author for correspondence.
Email: sleonoff@inbox.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4228-8973
SPIN-code: 2326-2920

MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor

Russian Federation, 3, Hospital square, Moscow, 105094; Moscow

Pavel V. Pinchuk

Chief State Center for Forensic Medicine and Forensic Expertise 111; The Russian National Research Medical University named after N.I. Pirogov

Email: pinchuk1967@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0223-2433
SPIN-code: 7357-3038

MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor

Russian Federation, 3, Hospital square, Moscow, 105094; Moscow

Juliya P. Shakiryanova

Chief State Center for Forensic Medicine and Forensic Expertise 111; Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry named after A.I. Evdokimov

Email: tristeza_ul@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1099-5561
SPIN-code: 1429-6230

MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.)

Russian Federation, 3, Hospital square, Moscow, 105094; Moscow

Vladimir N. Troyan

Main Military Clinical Hospital named after academical N.N. Burdenko

Email: vtroyan10@yahoo.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8008-9660
SPIN-code: 4937-3162

MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor

Russian Federation, Moscow

References

  1. Shakiryanova YP, Leonov SV, Kurbanov S.I. Possibilities of computed tomography in forensic medical research. In: Selected issues of forensic medical examination: Collection of articles. Ed. by A.I. Avdeev, I.V. Vlasyuk, A.V. Nesterov. Khabarovsk; 2019. Р. 201–205. (In Russ).
  2. Andenmatten MA, Thali MJ, Kneubuehl BP, et al. Gunshot injuries detected by post-mortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT): a feasibility study. Legal Med (Tokyo). 2008;10(6):287–292. doi: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2008.03.005
  3. Dadabaev VK, Troyan VN. Use of spiral computer tomography in forensic medical practice. Medical Expertise Law. 2011;(2):36–39. (In Russ).
  4. Dadabaev VK, Alekseev RK, Romadanovsky OP, et al. The role of radiation research methods in the diagnosis and establishment mechanism of childhood injuries. Tver Medical Journal. 2019;(5):62–71. (In Russ).
  5. Klevno VA, Chumakova JV. Virtopsia--a new research method in the domestic practice of forensic medicine. In: Topical issues of Forensic medicine and expert practice: Abstracts of the reports of the International Congress, April 17-19. Moscow; 2019. Р. 46. (In Russ).
  6. Thali MJ, Braun M, Buck U, et al. Virtopsy--Scientific documentation, reconstruction and animation in forensic: individual and real 3D data based geo-metric approach including optical body/ object surface and radiological CT/MRI scanning. J Forensic Sci. 2005;50(2):428–442.

Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. The direction and features of the wound channels of stab wounds according to computed tomography studies of the victim M.: а ― penetrating damage to the abdominal cavity on the right (arrow); b ― penetrating damage to the abdominal cavity in the mesogastrium (arrow).

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3. Fig. 2. Computed tomography data of the victim M.: а ― atelectasis of the left lung along the course of the wound canal; b ― marking of the displacement of the wound canal on layered images.

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4. Fig. 3. A three-dimensional model of the torso of the victim M., constructed according to the results of computed tomography, with localization of stab-cut injuries.

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