A patterned injury is an injury which possesses features or configuration indicative of the object(s) or surface(s), which produced it. It is often described as a mirror image of what caused it. Investigators must be able to recognize not only the impression left on the child but also attempt to discover what object caused the injury and be able to begin to process all important information relating to the assessment of soft tissue injuries in victims of child abuse. This presentation will provide investigators with simple but useful investigative techniques that they can implement while trying to find out what object was used on the child’s body.
Learning Objectives:
Define and recognize certain types of injuries, such as, burns, bites, bruises, head injuries, abdominal injuries, and fractures
Learn simple but effective ways of reconstructing soft tissue injuries
Learn the importance of photographing victim injuries and crime scene
