ABSTRACT
Blunt force trauma (BFT) is injury resulting from a broad instrument. The classification of BFT is dependent on the mechanism that caused the injury and is evident by the characteristics of the wound, particularly in light of the specific bone affected. This chapter provides a brief overview of blunt force injuries, guidelines for establishing the number and sequence of injuries, and common patterns observed for the skull and various postcranial elements. It discusses interpreting BFT in combination with gunfire injuries. BFT is characterized by a low or high load. Low-force injuries result from an object hitting a person, such as a club or hammer, whereas high-force injuries result from an object hitting a person during an explosion or when the person is pushed from the force of a blast and hits a stationary object. Cranial fractures resulting from BFT primarily consist of depressed, radiating, comminuted, blowout, or basilar fractures.
