[Faline]

The presence of defense wounds is justly considered an important sign that an individual has been the victim of an assault. Another aspect of medicolegal significance concerns the physical activity of the victim: defense wounds indicate that the attacked person was – at least initially – conscious and able to use his limbs for protection resulting in injuries to the forearms or hands or – in rare cases – to the legs. When sustaining defense wounds, the victim must have been aware of the assault (anticipating the blow or thrust) and fit for the natural reaction of protecting himself.

Defense Wounds from Knife Attacks
In an attempt to grasp the knife the fingers of the victim may close around the blade, which cuts across the flexures of the phalanges as the knife is withdrawn

Two cuts on the palmar surface of the left hand caused by the cutting edge of a machete when the victim attempted to clutch the weapon:

In an attempt to grasp the knife the fingers of the victim may close around the blade, which cuts across the flexures of the phalanges as the knife is withdrawn. In this case several fingers may be injured by a single impact of the cutting edge sometimes even completely severing the flexor tendons. Another typical location is the web between the thumb and the index finger.

It should be mentioned that more than two-thirds of all defense wounds are found on the left arm or left hand. To understand this phenomenon one has to visualize the position of the attacker and the victim: if somebody is in a threatening situation he will first try to bring his body into an upright position. Thus a lying person will try to stand up, a sitting person will get up. As soon as the attacker and the victim are standing opposite each other, the victim will try to ward off the assaulting hand. In doing this he will mostly rise his left arm, because it is nearest to the attacking arm of a right-handed assailant. The arm raised at the shoulder joint and flexed at the elbow is mostly hit by the assailant’s weapon on the extensor side.

Defense wound of the right ring finger with beveled margin forming a skin flap:


Multiple cuts of the left forearm and hand sustained when trying to ward off a knife attack against the neck:


Transfixion stab wound of the left hand after surgical treatment. The victim tried to fend off an attack with a kitchen knife:


Defense injuries on the forearm of a victim who was killed by stab wounds to the chest and cut-throat wounds:

Defense injuries to limbs covered by garments are usually accompanied by corresponding damages/cuts in the clothing, whereas a large majority of the suicides bare the target regions before cutting or stabbing.

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Defense Wounds Due to Blunt Force
Defense wounds of this kind are seen in blunt force attacks when the victim attempts to ward off kicks, blows of the fist, or blunt instruments. Their location is similar to defense wounds from knife attacks (hands, forearms or, less frequently, the legs). Injuries inflicted to the thighs possibly result from attempts to shield the genitals against blows or kicks aimed at the lower part of the body.
The injuries most often seen are abrasions and contusions (with concomitant bruising) on the back of the hands, wrists and forearms.
In rare cases the victim may sustain fractures of the hand bones. Another classical fracture site is the ulnar shaft, which is exposed in victims parrying a blow or kick with their raised forearm. Depending on the site of the causal impact these fractures usually occur at the transition from the proximal to the middle third or in the middle third of the ulna.

Irregular stab wounds on the dorsal and ulnar aspect of the right forearm: one of the stab wounds is extended by a superficial incision, the other one is V-shaped due to twisting of the blade. The weapon used by the assailant was a survival knife:


Bruises on the dorsal face of the left hand of a female victim who tried to protect her head against fist blows. In addition there is a shallow cut on the index finger (defense wound from a knife attack):

Defense wounds due to blunt trauma deserve special attention in suspected physical child abuse. In such cases bruises or abrasions may reflect patterned details from the instrument delivering the blow (e.g. belt, stick, rod, heel of a shoe). In adults also a great variety of blunt instruments can be used to inflict severe injuries, mainly to the head. If the hand is interposed in a protecting manner, it will primarily be hit by the weapon. By placing the hands on the top of the head the victim tries to lessen the blows. Apart from typical blunt weapons as hammers, firm bottles and wrenches, sometimes also (blank cartridge) pistols and revolvers are used for striking (‘pistol whipping’).

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Defense Wounds from Other Weapons
Chop wounds are a special category of injuries due to sharp force by heavy instruments with a cutting edge like axes, machetes and meat cleavers. Such wounds are characterized by cuts of the skin in combination with sharp-edged notches or comminuted fractures of the underlying bone. In attempts to ward off an assault with a chopping weapon, the back of the hand sustains deep chop wounds. Finally some uncommon stabbing instruments have to be mentioned: icepicks, forks, files, pens, scissors, screwdrivers, broken bottles.
In a wider sense even in firearm injuries the upper limbs may reveal a special kind of defense wound when the victim raises an arm in an unsuccessful attempt to shield vital areas of the body. Under such circumstances the bullet first passes through the hand or the arm and afterwards often enters the head or the thorax producing a re-entry wound.

Defense injuries on the back of the right hand: excoriations, bruises and a shallow laceration due to multiple blows with a pistol grip:

[Pelle]

Great pics and info!

[Warnebald]

Interesting stuff, thanks Kelly

[><0300><]

Great post!

[joethurr]

great post... very informative..and not lacking gore..

[durt]

good post Kelly, thanks!

[synthninja]

Way to go! Glad its not me! Imagine how bad that would feel? Reminds me of my nightmare I had the other night. My nipples were going to be ripped right off... It made her happy to do it. To rip my nipples off would have been orgasmic for her. That was my nightmare. Sweet dreams..

[Djurplagare]

If you are desperate theres better way to have it done.

[><0300><]

That arm looks like a turkey carving session my mom would have at thanksgiving when I was a kid

[Necrosis]

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This fucker gave me an erection again.