Supplementary Pathway for Vitality of Wounds and Wound Age Estimation in Bruises Using the Electric Impedance Spectroscopy Technique

• NCJ Number: 235790
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2011 Pages: 925-929
• Author(s): Shiwei Mao, Ph.D.; Feng Fu, Ph.D.; Xiuzhen Dong, Ph.D.; Zhenyuan Wang, Ph.D.
• Date Published: July 2011
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Determination of wound vitality and estimation of wound age are central issues in daily forensic practice. The objective of this study was to develop a new and rapid method for determining wound vitality and estimating wound age in bruises using electric impedance spectroscopy.

Abstract

Forty Sprague-Dawley rats (140-170 g) were divided into five groups: group 1 (n = 8): controls, group 2 (n = 8): postmortem bruises, group 3 (n = 8): bruises 1 h before death, group 4 (n = 8): bruises 3 h before death, group 5 (n = 8): bruises 6 h before death. Measurements of the right gluteus maximus muscle were taken at 6, 24, and 48 h after the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The results from this study indicate that electric impedance spectroscopy is clearly sensitive enough to differentiate between vital and postmortem wound infliction and to determine the survival time after the infliction of an injury. (Published Abstract)