PHYSICAL INJURY

• Physical injury means damage to any bodily tissue to the extent that the
tissue must undergo a healing process in order to be restored to a sound and
healthy condition, or damage to any bodily tissue to the extent that the tissue
cannot be restored to a sound and healthy condition, or damage to any bodily
tissue which results in the death of the person who has sustained the damage.

• An injury is the impairment of the body function could arise from any cause
including pure accident while wound would suggest by deliberate action.
WOUND IS A BREAK OR SOLUTION IN THE
CONTINUITY OF THE SKIN OR TISSUES OF THE
LIVING BODY.

VITAL REACTION IS THE SUM TOTAL OF

ALL REACTIONS OF TISSUES OR ORGANS TO
PHYSICAL INJURY OR TRAUMA.
 VITAL REACTION

1. RUBOR- redness or congestion to the area

2. CALOR- sensation of heat
3. DOLOR- pain
4. LOSS OF FUNCTION- on account of trauma
 CLASSIFICATION OF WOUND
A.As to severity
1. MORTAL WOUNDS OR FATAL WOUNDS
Which when inflicted capable of causing death,
Ex: injuries to the brain, spinal cord heat and big blood vessels, internal
abdominal organs.
2. NON- MORTAL WOUNDS
Wound when inflicted will not endangers one’s life.
CLASSIFICATION OF WOUND
B. As to the manner of infliction
1. Hit- by the stroke of a bolo, axe and
other blunt instruments

2. Thrust or Stab- by the stroke of a

knife, dagger, ice pick, bayonet and spears.
3. Sliding or Rubbing

4. Gunpowder explosion by
Projectile or Shrapnel

5. Tearing or sketching
• C. As to the kind of
instrument used. 1. LACERATED WOUND- Produced by blunt instruments.
Ex: lead pipe, piece of wood, stones.

2. INCISED WOUND- Wound produced by sharp edged

instrument. The length of the wound is longer than the
depth.
An incised wound, or cut or "slash," results when an object
with a sharp tip or sharp edge, makes contact with the skin
(with or without associated underlying tissues), with the
direction of the force in relation to the skin occurring in a
more-or-less tangential fashion.
3. STABBED WOUND- A stab wound is a specific
form of penetrating trauma to the skin that results
from a knife or a similar pointed object.
Ex: Kitchen knife, Balisong, dagger.
The length of the wound is shorter. The depth is
deeper.
4. PUNCTURED WOUND- A puncture wound is a
forceful injury caused by a sharp, pointed object that
penetrates the skin.
Ex: ice pick, screw driver, barbecue stick.
5. Wound produced by tearing force.
D. As to the depth of wound
1. SUPERFICIAL WOUND- Wound which involves
the outer layer of the skin. Cuts that do not involve
fat or muscle tissue (superficial) are not bleeding
heavily.
Ex: scratch or abrasion

2. DEEP WOUND- Wound which involves the outer

as well as the inner structure of the body.
In technical terms, a deep wound is one that cuts
deeper than ¼ of an inch beneath the surface of the
skin.
A. PENETRATING WOUND- are caused by
objects that penetrate the body, that is, they pierce
the skin and lacerate, disrupt, destroy, or contuse
adjacent tissue, thus creating an open wound. Ex:
stab wound, piercing the liver, spleen, kidneys.

B. PERFORATING WOUND- wound where there

is communication between the outer and inner
portions of the hallow organs.
An injury in which an object enters the body or a
structure and passes all the way through is called a
perforating injury.
 E. As to the relation of the site of application or force and the
location of injury.
• COUP INJURY- Injury which is found at the
site of application of force

• CONTRE COUP INJURY- Injury which is

found not at the site but opposite the site of the
application of force.

• COUP CONTRE COUP INJURY- which is

found at the site and also opposite the site of
application of force.
• LOCUS MINOR’S RESISTENCIA- It is
the injury which is found not at the site or
opposite the site of the application of
force but in some areas offering least
resistance to the force applied.

• EXTENSIVE INJURY- It is the physical

injury involving greater areas beyond the
site of application of force.
Ex: fall from height, vehicular accident.
SPECIAL TYPES OF WOUNDS
1. PATTERNED WOUND- Wound produced
by the shape of the instrument or object
reflected in the body. Ex:
imprint of the radiator on the chest, tire
marks on the body.

2. DEFENSE WOUND- produced by persons

instinctive reaction for self protection.
Ex: contusion in the forearm produced by
parring the blow, incised wound.
 LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF PHYSICAL INJURIES

1. MUTILATION- international act or looping any part or parts

of the living body.

2. SLIGHT PHYSICAL INJURY- it is the physical injury

wherein the victim is incapacitated for work or requires
medical attendance for a period from one to nine days.
3. LESS SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY- a physical injury
wherein the victim is incapacitated for work or require medical
attendance for 10 days or more but not more than 30 days.

4. SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY- injury wherein the victim

becomes ill or incapacitated for the performance of his usual work
for more than 90 days, the injury caused deformity, loss of Ny
member of his body and loss the use thereof.
• DEFORMITY- permanent disfigurement of the body producing
physical ugliness.
Ex: loss of an ear, scars in the face.

• INCAPACITY- the inability of the injured person to perform his

work where he is habitually engaged.
F. As to the types of Wound

1. CLOSED WOUND- when there is no break in the skin

or mucose membrane. In a closed wound or bruise, the soft
tissue is damaged, but there is no break in the skin. In an
open wound, the surface of the skin is broken.
• PETECHIAE- minute pin-point
circumscribed extravasations of
blood underneath the skin or mucos
membrane.
Ex: subpleural petechiae homorrhage,
insect bite, tardieu spot.
Petechiae are pinpoint, round spots
that appear on the skin as a result of
bleeding.
• CONTUSION “Pasa”- wound in the skin
and subcutaneous tissues characterized by
swelling and discoloration of tissues
because of extravasation of blood. While
the term contusion might sound serious,
its just a medical term for the common
bruise. A bruise or contusion appears on
the skin due to trauma.
Example of trauma are a cut or a blow to an
area of the body.
• HEMATOMA- large extravasation in
a newly formed cavity secondary to
trauma characterized by swelling,
discoloration of tissues and effusion
of blood underneath the tissues. A
hematoma is a bad bruise. A
hematoma is a common problem that
occurs as a result of damage to one of
the large body vessels in the body.
• MUSCULO SKELETAL INJURY-
it is most often caused by an injury
to the bones, joints, muscle, tendons,
ligaments or nerves. This can be
caused by jerking movements, car
accidents, falls, fractures, sprains,
dislocations, and direct blows to the
muscle.
• INTERNAL HEMORRHAGE-
almost any organ or blood vessels
can be damaged by trauma and
cause internal bleeding. The most
serious of internal bleeding due to
the trauma are; Head trauma with
internal bleeding( intracranial
hemorrhage).
There are broadly three different
types of bleeding: Arterial, venous
and capilary.
• CEREBRAL CONCUSSION- a
temporary injury to the brain caused
by a bump, blow or jolt to the head. A
concussion is a traumatic brain injury
that affects your brain function. Effects
are usually temporary but can include
headaches and problems with
concentration, memory, balance and
coordination. Concussions are usually
caused by a blow to the head.
2. OPEN WOUND- open wounds can be caused by simple cuts,
contusions, abrasion and even insect bites. The harmful bacteria
typically will cause the skin cells and soft tissue to die(necrotize) and
in serious cases may cause further complications that can lead to
serious illness, amputation and even death.
There is a breach of continents of a skin.
Ex: Abrasion, incised wound, stab wound, puncture wound, lacerated
wound and sharpnel wound.
 Incised Wound Stab Wound

Puncture Wound Sharpnel Wound

CLOSED WOUND
1. PETECHINE- circumscribed extravasation of
blood tissues, pinhead size like mosquito bites.

2. CONTUSION " PASA " - effusion of blood into

the tissues underneath the skin on account of the
rupture of the blood vessels as a result of the
application of blunt force. Contusion is red or purple
when fresh after 4-5 days it becomes green and after
7-10 days it becomes yellow and gradually
disappears at 14th day.
3. HEMATOMA ( blood cyst, bukol) - Effusion
of blood in the newly formed cavity.

4. PUNCHING- consist of blows with the

clenched fist and usually directed at the upper part
of the body bruising and abrasion are most
common result on the face particularly around the
eyes periobital hematoma or black eye).

5. KICKING- common injury in assault and

homicide consist of a mixture of abrasion bruise,
and sometimes laceration.
MUSCULO-SKELETAL INJURIES

SPRAIN- partial or incomplete disruption

in the continuity of muscle or ligaments.

DISLOCATION- displacement of the

articular surface of the bones.
FRACTURE- it is a break or solution in the
continuity of he bone tissues.

SPINAL INJURY- whiplash injury is due to

either hyper flection or hyper extension of
the neck or combination of both. Hyper
extension seems to cause the most damage.
INTERNAL HEMORRHAGE- rupture of blood vessels causing
hemorrhage.
1. Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage
2. Rupture of parenchymatous organs

CEREBRAL CONCUSSION- jarring or stunning of the brain

follows a blow in the head.
OPEN WOUNDS

1. ABRASION (Gasgas, Scratch, Graze,

Friction Mark) – Characterized by
removal of the superficial layer of the
skin brought about by friction against a
hard rough object.
FORMS OF ABRASION
1. LINEAR ABRASION- there is single
line which may be curve or straight.

2. MULTI- LINEAR ABRASION-

several lines of injury which are
parallel to one another
3. CONFLUENT ABRASION- the lines
of injury are arranged in haphazardly.

4. MULTIPLE ABRASION- abrasion in

the body surface located in different parts
of the body.
TYPES OF ABRASION
SCRATCHES- brought about by the stroke of sharp
pointed instrument over the skin. The most likely
reason for the appearance of scratches is that you're
unknowingly or accidentally scratching

GRAZES- A graze (or abrasion) is a scraping or

rubbing away of the skin surface. Grazes are
superficial and usually heal within 2 weeks with
self-care. Due to forcible contact with a rough, hard
object resulting to irregular removal of the skin
surface.
IMPACT OR IMPRINT ABRASION- (contact
or imprint abrasions). They are caused by
impact with a rough object, when the force is
applied at or near a right angle to the skin
surface.

PRESSURE OR FRICTION ABRASION-

When a hard object rubs off some of your skin,
you have what's called a friction burn. It's both
an abrasion (scrape) and a heat burn. These are
common in motorcycle and bike accidents.
2. INCISED WOUND- an open wound produced
by forcible contact with sharp edged instrument
characterized by gaping of the wound with
smooth edges and causing profuse bleeding.
Because of the sharp-force mechanism of injury.
Ex: knife, razor, broken glasses, metal sheet,
The incised wound may be suicidal, homicidal,
accidental depending upon the location, direction
and presence or absence of hesitation cuts.
3. LACERATED WOUND (tear, “Putok”)- wound
produced by blunt instrument characterized by ill or
irregular edges,
Ex: blow by piece of wood, lead pipe, stone, butt of a
firearm, first blow.
Most lacerations are the result of the skin hitting an
object, or an object hitting the skin with force.

4.PUNCTURED WOUND- an open wound produced by

round bodied and pointed instrument characterized by
small opening.
Ex: ice pick, nails, thorns, hooks, screw drivers, and
barbecue sticks.
5. STABBED WOUND- wound produced by
sharp pointed and sharp edged instrument. The
edges of the wound are clean-cut, smooth and
distinct.

• PENETRATING STAB WOUND- involves

solid interval organs

• PERFORATING STAB WOUND- involves

hallow interval organs.
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