Ageing of abrasions by gross and histopathological examination – study among dead bodies brought to modern mortuary, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam

Vadde Chandra Sekhar; Subbarao Pulimi; Jacinth Karunya  Midde; B. Sridhar  Reddy

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20263541

Authors

Vadde Chandra Sekhar Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, Jharkhand, India
Subbarao Pulimi Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, India
Jacinth Karunya Midde Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
B. Sridhar Reddy Vijaya Diagnostic Centre, Dwarakanagar, Visakhapatnam, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20263541

Keywords:

Abrasion, Forensic medicine, Histopathology, Medicolegal autopsy, Wound dating

Abstract

Background: Dating injuries has important medico-legal implications. Abrasion age estimation in routine forensic practice relies mainly on gross examination, while histopathology provides objective microscopic evidence. However, their correlation remains insufficiently studied in India. To estimate the age of abrasions by gross and histopathological examination and correlate gross changes with microscopic findings.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from August to December 2021 at Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. Sixty-four medicolegal autopsy cases with known times of injury and death were included. A total of 118 abrasion samples underwent gross and histopathological examination using haematoxylin and eosin staining.

Results: The study included 51 males (79.68%) and 13 females (20.31%), with most aged 21–40 years (39.06%). Road traffic accidents accounted for 76.56% of cases and graze abrasions were most common (57.62%). Grossly, bright red discolouration was observed up to 6 hours, reddish scab up to 38 hours, brownish scab up to 115 hours, dark brown scab up to 140 hours and black scab from 140–290 hours. Vascular congestion was the earliest microscopic change (25 minutes), followed by oedema, inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast formation, granulation tissue, collagen formation and regression. Good correlation was observed.

Conclusions: Combined gross and histopathological examination may improve abrasion age estimation in medicolegal practice.

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