ABSTRACT
Sharp force trauma consists of lesions caused by sharp objects, such as knives, scissors, screwdrivers, needles, or machetes, and each object may leave a unique mark on the skin that may lead to the identification. Sharp trauma lesions can be divided into four categories: stab wounds, incised wounds, chop wounds, and therapeutic, diagnostic wounds. Stab and incised wounds are the most common sharp force trauma and are often caused by a knife. Another problem occurs when the guard is not symmetrical, because the lesion may be misinterpreted as blunt force trauma (BFT). BFT leaves lacerations or bridges of soft tissue between the edges of the lesion that presents irregular edges and tearing, with contusion. Boat propellers may cause chop-like wounds in marine animals, whose lesions may be a combination of sharp and blunt trauma. Late complications due to sharp force trauma include undetected bleeding in internal viscera, including lung, liver, spleen, kidney, that may occur for several hours after death.
