Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Forensic assessment of single stab injuries to the trunk

Berg von Linde, Maria LU ; Acosta, Stefan LU orcid ; Khoshnood, Ardavan M. LU orcid and Wingren, Carl Johan LU (2023) Kirurgiveckan 2023
Abstract
Introduction
Forensic pathologists are frequently confronted with questions about the likelihood that an injury is inflicted by an assault or is self-inflicted. However, little is known of epidemiological variables applicable to differentiate between homicides and suicides in deaths caused by single stab injuries to the trunk.

Method
Using the Swedish forensic autopsy register we identified 94 homicides and 45 suicides between 2010 and 2021 that died following a single stab injury to the trunk. We extracted characteristics from the cases and performed statistical analyses using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square test.

Result
Victims of homicides were younger than suicide victims (median age 33 years vs. 52 years,... (More)
Introduction
Forensic pathologists are frequently confronted with questions about the likelihood that an injury is inflicted by an assault or is self-inflicted. However, little is known of epidemiological variables applicable to differentiate between homicides and suicides in deaths caused by single stab injuries to the trunk.

Method
Using the Swedish forensic autopsy register we identified 94 homicides and 45 suicides between 2010 and 2021 that died following a single stab injury to the trunk. We extracted characteristics from the cases and performed statistical analyses using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square test.

Result
Victims of homicides were younger than suicide victims (median age 33 years vs. 52 years, p < 0.05), and males were in majority in both groups (93% vs. 82%). Some homicidal stab wounds were placed on the posterior (12%) and axillar trunk (11%) unlike the suicidal stabs which were all placed on the anterior trunk. Most stab wounds of all examinations were placed on the left side of the anterior thorax (60%). In suicides, single stab injuries to the heart were more common than in homicides (67% vs. 48%, p < 0.05). Vasculature injuries were more common in homicides (51% vs. 9%, p < 0.05).

Discussion
The epidemiological variables could be used as a tool when assessing the manner of death in single stabs. Further research on variables associated with manner of death are needed and we suggest also including surviving victims in such analyses. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Thorax, Forensic, Forensic Medicine, Thorax, Rättsmedicin
conference name
Kirurgiveckan 2023
conference location
Örebro, Sweden
conference dates
2023-08-21 - 2023-08-25
project
A forensic epidemiological approach to stab injuries to the trunk
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
645926e1-aad3-48b1-8c82-eec6609918f9
date added to LUP
2023-08-25 22:54:00
date last changed
2023-08-28 09:37:41
@misc{645926e1-aad3-48b1-8c82-eec6609918f9,
  abstract     = {{Introduction<br/>Forensic pathologists are frequently confronted with questions about the likelihood that an injury is inflicted by an assault or is self-inflicted. However, little is known of epidemiological variables applicable to differentiate between homicides and suicides in deaths caused by single stab injuries to the trunk. <br/><br/>Method<br/>Using the Swedish forensic autopsy register we identified 94 homicides and 45 suicides between 2010 and 2021 that died following a single stab injury to the trunk. We extracted characteristics from the cases and performed statistical analyses using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square test.<br/><br/>Result<br/>Victims of homicides were younger than suicide victims (median age 33 years vs. 52 years, p &lt; 0.05), and males were in majority in both groups (93% vs. 82%). Some homicidal stab wounds were placed on the posterior (12%) and axillar trunk (11%) unlike the suicidal stabs which were all placed on the anterior trunk. Most stab wounds of all examinations were placed on the left side of the anterior thorax (60%). In suicides, single stab injuries to the heart were more common than in homicides (67% vs. 48%, p &lt; 0.05). Vasculature injuries were more common in homicides (51% vs. 9%, p &lt; 0.05).<br/><br/>Discussion<br/>The epidemiological variables could be used as a tool when assessing the manner of death in single stabs. Further research on variables associated with manner of death are needed and we suggest also including surviving victims in such analyses.}},
  author       = {{Berg von Linde, Maria and Acosta, Stefan and Khoshnood, Ardavan M. and Wingren, Carl Johan}},
  keywords     = {{Thorax; Forensic; Forensic Medicine; Thorax; Rättsmedicin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  title        = {{Forensic assessment of single stab injuries to the trunk}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/155888906/Abstract.pdf}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}