Emedinews:Insights on Medicolegal Issues:Preparation of MLC in injury cases by the attending doctor

·         Injuries produced by a blunt weapon on tense skin covering the bones, as on scalp, eyebrow, iliac crest, shin, perineum, knee or elbow look like incised wounds. During the preparation of MLC report the doctors should keep in mind that he has to provide a clue about the weapon used, whether sharp–edged one or otherwise, the direction of the force, the duration of injury and the location of the wound, which may suggest mode of production i.e. suicide, accident, homicides along with whether the injury is fabricated or otherwise.

·         Wounds produced by a blunt weapon or by a fall on the hard surface, object, on tense structures/skin covering the bones, such as the scalp, eyebrow, iliac crest, shin, perineum, knee or elbow when the limb is flexed look like incised wounds; but, they are lacerated wound, also called split laceration. These wounds may mislead the doctor and the investigating authorities about a sharp weapon.

·         When incised–looking wounds are examined by doctor under magnifying lens, the edges of such wounds are found to be irregular with bruising and wounds are produced by blunt weapon.

·         An incised wound, cut, slash, and slice is a clean cut through the skin, it may or may not involve underlying tissues and structures. It is caused by a sharp–edged instrument, which is longer than the depth of wound. It is produced by infliction of an object having a sharp–cutting edge such as knife, razor, blade, scalpel, sword over the body.