1. Sharp-Force Trauma

2. 4 categories:
- stab wounds
- incised wounds
- chop wounds
- therapeutic wounds

3. Stab Wounds
From single-edged knife (kitchen, pocket, folding); maybe - glass, icepicks, pens, scissors
Weapon goes deeper than skin layers – can damage muscles, fat, organs
Usually smooth
If jagged wound, may be from suicide (hesitation marks) or struggle

4. Very sharp knife – little force = lots of pressure
Penetrating wound = results in punctured organ
Perforating wound = punctures organ and comes out other side of organ
If strong force, hilt of knife may leave a patterned abrasion

5. Size and shape of wound affected by angle and depth of entry

6. Wound examined to determine length and width of weapon and angle of penetration
Also, # of times stabbed
If scissors, open (cut skin) v. closed (split skin – edges rough)
If weapon hit bone, piece may break off in skin

7. Incised Wounds
Cuts by knife, glass, etc. – is longer than is deep; clean edges
Force applied parallel to skin
No clues about weapon
Usually not fatal; stitches
Found in suicides, defensive wounds

8. Chop Wounds Incised wounds on surface and deep internal injuries
From heavy tools – axe (crushes bone), machete (obvious, coarse lines), meat cleaver (thin, sharp lines)
Can narrow down weapon

9. Therapeutic Wounds
From surgery
Can be mistaken for criminal wounds