ABSTRACT
A patterned injury is imprinted when a hard object is pressed into skin over a period of time. The tissue compression may be active or passive, such as lying on an object. The period of time and amount of compression may vary considerably. Great force applied over a short period of time-hitting a person with a baseball bat, for example-is referred to as blunt trauma injury. Certain objects can leave impressions similar to the human dentition. This chapter illustrates patterns, lesions, and trauma that might be misinterpreted as bitemarks and vice versa.
Fresh compression injuries on the living are analyzed by photographic record supported by the injured party’s statement. Victim testimony is not always available. Children may be too young, or a person may be mentally handicapped, amnesic, unconscious, comatose, or senile, have Alzheimer’s, or be uncooperative. Figures 19.1-19.3 are patterned injuries for which the victim described the circumstances. The force applied to produce the injury in the first example was insufficient to cause lacerations.
