Wound Timing: Highlight The Histopathological and Molecular Methods

Document Type : Review Articles

Authors

Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Although forensic pathology age estimation of a wound is difficult, it can help reconstruct murder scenes and identify potential culprits. Forensic specialists usually focus on two aspects when evaluating wound life and determining how long ago the wound occurred. Recent developments in forensic techniques, particularly in high-throughput analyses, have allowed for the simultaneous evaluation of several markers and molecular and cellular levels of material analysis.

Aim: To evaluate valuable additional information offered by each marker, summarize recent literature, and offer an update on wound-age estimation in forensic pathology. With the intention of providing some insight for future research, prospects for evaluating wound age in forensic practice are finally examined.

Conclusion: Although forensic pathologists find it difficult to determine the age of wounds, doing so can help reconstruct crime scenes and help apprehend suspects. In circumstances where several traumas are sustained by various offenders, forensic pathologists must determine the chronology and sequence of injuries because the severity of an injury usually determines the severity of punishment. Wound tracing, photographic recording (including image analysis), biophysical approaches, and/or invasive protocols requiring wound biopsies are examples of protocols that can be used to do the assessment. We give a summary of some of the most frequently required and utilized methods in this article: (a) Preclinical and animal models, such as those involving incisions, excisions, burns, and damaged wounds; (b) techniques for assessing the rate of healing, image-based wound analysis, biophysical evaluation, histological, immunological, and biochemical assays; and techniques for assessing the healing progression.

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