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Abstract
Background: Mechanical injuries caused by assault, accidents, interpersonal violence are a substantial percentage of medico-legal cases investigated by the police surgeons. Such injuries have to be systematically documented and analyzed, which are necessary to be interpreted in law, prevent injuries, and plan the health of people.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was carried out with the help of medico-legal examination reports of the cases of mechanical injuries received by the Police Surgeon, Hyderabad. Such variables as age, gender, date of examination, anatomic site of injury, and description of injury were analyzed. The injuries were classified based on the type (abrasion, contusion, laceration, incised wound, punctured/firearm injury, swelling) and the body area.
Findings: Both male and female victims were involved in the study that was conducted over an extensive age range (2-85 years). The proportion of females was higher in cases, and most of them were seen to be young adults. The head and face were the most frequently affected anatomical regions then, upper limbs and lower limbs. The commonest types of injuries were abrasions, contusions and lacerations. Fewer cases were associated with grievous injuries, including bone-deep lacerations and puncture wounds of a gun with entry and exit features.
Conclusion: Mechanical injuries in medico-legal practice are most often associated with young adults, and injuries of the head and face prevail. The most common is blunt force trauma, but sharp force and gunshot wounds are of great medico-legal relevance. The proper records of the nature of injuries are essential in court litigation.