Bone Abrasion Due to the Dragging Force of a Moving Vehicle

[hermantheshocker]

Abrasion injuries such as graze abrasions occur due to dragging of the body over a rough surface along the line of force. Such dragging of a body usually occurs when a person is trapped/pinned underneath a moving object like an automobile. Most of such injuries are superficial in nature or are limited to the soft tissues only. However, when the body is dragged for a considerable distance with considerable force then there might be bony involvement causing abrasion injuries to bone, which may be termed as “bone abrasion”.

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Case1

An 18-year-old man, while traveling on his bicycle, was involved in an accident with a van. He was struck by the van from behind. He fell and his head collided with the left front wheel of the van. The man was dragged for around 10 to 20 meters (33-65 ft) before the van stopped. The incident was witnessed by bystanders who immediately took the victim to the hospital. The van driver ran away from the site along with his van fearing a public onslaught.


Graze abrasion of skin and bone was seen di- rected back to front, with evidence of heaping of skin and bone over the anterior margin

The police visited the crime scene and found tire marks over the road for a length of 15 meters. Similarly, bloodstains were visible along the length of the crime scene area. At the hospital, the patient was diagnosed to have sustained a head injury. During the period of hospitalization, the patient gave a statement to the police regarding the manner of his accident. However, he succumbed to his injuries nine days after the accident.

There was a graze lacerated wound over the mid-frontoparietal region with the underlying bone exposed of size 6 cm × 5 cm, with evidence of heaping over the frontal margin. There was evidence of blackening of the skin in and around the injured area. The exposed skull bone showed multiple linear grazed abraded lines with evidence of heaping over the frontal margin involving the skin-covered bone adjacent to it. There was a sagittally placed fissured fracture involving the frontal and parietal bone.

Now both of these injuries were adding to each other. It was suggested that it might have been caused by the same impact and by being dragged under the wheel of the van. The blackening in and around the wound would be due to frictional heat generated during the process of dragging the victim’s head. Graze abrasion of the skin and the bone was seen in the front to back direction with evidence of heaping of skin and bone over the anterior margin (Fig. 1). There was also a graze abrasion over the forehead, the posteromedial aspect of both forearms, and over the left iliac region, which was skin deep.

There was a comminuted fracture of the frontal bone with multiple linear graze lining over the skull. There was subarachnoid hemorrhaging all over the brain surface. The brain was congested and markedly oedematous. All other internal visceral organs were intact and congested. The cause of death was given as head injury. Toxicological analysis did not reveal any toxicological substances.

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Case 2

A 30-year-old male pedestrian was involved in an accident with a truck. He became trapped in the front bumper of the truck and was dragged for around 100–150 meters (109-164 yards). At the scene of the crime blood-stains and pieces of flesh and body tissue were seen smearing the road up to that distance. At the terminal end, where the body was found, there were tire marks in a forward and backward direction. Here also, due to fearing the fury of bystanders the truck driver fled. The victim died on the spot.


Bone abrasion as if polished like wood by a carpenter

The deceased had graze abrasion injuries to soft tissues and bone over his chest and right upper limb. The skin in and around the injuries and the corresponding bones were blackened and showed evidence of dermo-epidermal burns. The humerus bone was so abraded that it looked as if it had been planed like wood by a carpenter, together with blackening of the bone matter (Fig. 2). There was a graze abrasion over the right thigh and knee, which was skin deep.

Visceral organs were intact and pale, including lungs, heart, liver, and spleen. The brain showed subarachnoid hemorrhage surrounding the entire brain surface area. The cause of death given was shock and hemorrhage due to injuries sustained. Toxicological analysis did not reveal any toxicological substances.

Regarding evidence collection, the bloodstains found on site were matched with the blood of the victim, and the tire marks were identified to be those of the alleged van and truck by the investigating team. However, the van or the truck that was the causative factor of these fatal incidences was not been able to be traced by the investigating team, so they were unable to obtain evidence of traces of any stains on it.

In vehicular accidents involving a pedestrian/ bicycle/motorcycle in collision with another vehicle, such as a car or truck, various skin injuries occur. These skin injuries are often termed as “friction abrasions/brush burns/gravel rash/road rash/graze abrasion”. Here, the injuries indicate contact of the body surface with a hard and rough surface such as the road. However, such injuries might not be limited to the skin only. When a victim is dragged for a considerable distance with force by any means like a vehicle, it can produce an extensive form of abrasion injuries, which involve the skin, soft tissues, and sometimes the bone. Often the victim dies at the site due to such injuries. However, sometimes they survive and are brought to the hospital in an injured state.

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This post is for educational purposes only and is nonprofit. Under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act of 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. OP is not a medical expert. No copyright infringement intended. This post does not encourage or glorify violence/harassment. Images might have been upscaled and enhanced. Text might have been shortened and simplified/reorganized for online view.

[ride]

And THAT, friends, is why motorcyclists and bicyclists need to wear protective gear - not just a helmet. As for the pedestrian, well...

...look both ways before crossing the street.

[William May]

You can LIVE in a van, down by the river. Just don't be HIT by a van.

[Shadolife]

You can sure learn a bit of anatomy, along with the safety lessons, from these two.
Thanks h

[REVZZYBAN]

That's kinda like the skid marks in my underwear.

[EnjoyMeredith]

Owwy