Animal attack injuries: fatal and non fatal. In some cases, puncture wounds can be excised.8, A forensic approach to a suspected fatal dog attack should include not only the detailed exploration of the victim and the dog but also the appropriate assessment of the scene. Puncture wounds are prone to infection, and the risk of infection is even greater if the injury was caused by a dog bite. Cranium fragmentation may be found but decapitation is highly unusual. Read More. Motivation of the animal. The interincisal and intercanine distances can discriminate the offending dogs if there are many suspected animals involved.3,8 The incisors may not produce markings, but the presence of six incisors of an arch mark excludes a human bite. 2000;217(6):836840. If infection sets in, the complications can be life-threatening. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Consequently, the surrounding bloodstains would be distinct from the spatter emanating from a living person.28 A common situation of dog scavenging in indoor interferences is presented in Diogenes syndrome. To care for the wound: Stop the wound from bleeding by applying direct pressure with a clean, dry cloth. Accessed July 7, 2015. Associations & Partners The incisors are used for nibbling, producing small parallel furrows on bone. Why did the murderer move the body to the V.A. Several features of Most often, a ruptured spleen is caused by blunt force trauma. scratch marks on the victim's arm. Figure 3 Multiple bite marks on the neck of an 85-year-old woman in a fatal pit bull attack.Notes: The daughter of the victim indicated that the dog was provoked previously by the victim. Thus, hanging was found out to be second most . Sometimes in the hand, sometimes in the nose cavity, or the foot, these minute metallic objects are of unknown substance and would appear to be some kind of tracking device. Dogs, cats, and kin: a molecular species-level phylogeny of carnivora. How did the scientists determine that there was a second victim? Int J Legal Med. 5. Of course, the most interesting feature of Yehohanans skeleton is his feet. Because of the impossibility of removing the nail and because the man was buried rather than exposed, we have direct evidence of the practice of crucifixion. Another part of the equation is what caused the puncture wound. On January 31, 2015, Chile permitted in its Hunting Regulations, the hunt of [] wild or feral dogs, which are in packs, outside of the urban areas, at a distance of >400 m away from any village or rural housing isolated, which must be caught or hunted in the terms set forth in this Act and regulation.42 Almost 120 Chilean animal defense leagues pointed out that the capture and hunt of dogs would imply the nondiscrimination of hunted animals and would represent an incentive for the abandonment of dogs outside of urban areas. Thus, when a hyoid bone breaks, it's often a result of strangulation, either from an accident, homicide, or suicide. Learn how we can help. A compound fracture is a break or crack in your bone that is visible through your skin. b) Such wounds may also be caused by running over a knife, or falling upon sharp pointed objects such as broken pieces of glass. In no particular order, find the Bite marks must be discriminated from other traumas, and the familiarity of the investigator with different patterns of animal behavior can be of great importance in the correct assessment of the offending specie. Note this was caused by a fist. A cut, or laceration, is a tear or opening in the skin that occurs due to an external injury. Incision, puncture. When only dry bones survive, the circumstances and manner of death might be obliterated by postmortem processes; animal activity on cadavers plays a major destructive role due to the tendency of animals to dismember the body as well as damage the tissues.24 Byard mentioned that injuries caused by animals during life may be nearly undetectable but completely relevant, and postmortem damage can significantly impair the pathological assessment of bodies.26 Several authors recommend an adequate training in forensic pathology acquiring familiarity with the types of artifacts that may be introduced by animal activity.19,26, Autopsy of victims often reveals particular signs that relate directly to the dogs teeth and pattern of attack, with particular wounds and tissue avulsion.13 The injuries are represented by particular punctiform V-shaped holes and lesions presenting irregular and furrowed borders (Figure 3). A team approach provides the best opportunity for thorough documentation of circumstance, scene analysis, and proper photographic documentation.1 In dog bite cases, the court may ask an expert to identify which specific animal caused the wounds or the fatal bite to hold responsible the proprietor of the animal.8 Bite mark analysis is a delicate commission, and well-qualified experts have differing opinions about the interpretation and use of this type of evidence.2,4 The forensic evaluation of a dog attack needs an integrated approach by a forensic pathologist with a forensic veterinary involving a review of the circumstances of death, death scene examination, and autopsy examination of the corpse. The size, shape, and distribution of the puncture marks can give an indication of the size of animal that inflicted them. Wash the wound. Children are frequently bitten in the head and neck area because these anatomic regions are of the same height as the dogs mouth.2 In a defensive or anger bite, a dog may attempt to bite and let go showing superficial anterior tooth marks similarly to a human bite. Both views are of the same individual. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. Metric records of all canine jaws and descriptions of dental patterns were recorded and compared with the wound samples; seven dogs were convincingly suspected to be responsible for the mauling. Loosen the Victim's clothing and, if necessary, move them in to the shade. 2011;32(1):5054. A ruptured Achilles tendon is not uncommon for athletes and can cause a great deal of pain. The odontological examination of bite marks and DNA analysis allowed identifying the dog as the perpetrator.3, While a dog bite mark has been conceptualized as any break in the skin caused by a dogs teeth, regardless of the intention,8 the reason of biting is the Holy Grail when researchers try to explain dog bites from an ethological point of view.30 It is clear that the patterns of behavior must be conveniently discriminated according to whether or not they are responsible for the death of the victim. Oxford: Academic Press; 2005: 7179. They found that the nail was too short to have penetrated both heel bones and they were unconvinced that the scratch on the wrist bone was related to traumatic injury. Med Sci. Quite often, they do this with their paws, leaving their unlucky victims with claw rakes. After the bones were conserved, however, Haas noticed new evidence and suggested instead that the feet were next to one another, and one nail was driven into both heels. Gerdin JA, McDonough SP. answers to these questions in the episode. Pits are indentations that are inflicted by any of the teeth when grasping onto bone, whereas score marks result when the teeth are dragged along the surface of the bone. (2016, July 23). Dont play sports without using proper protective gear. The floors were covered with dog feces, and there was no available dog food. The force of impact is concentrated at the tip of the implement, and the sharper the tip, the easier . The samples were fixed and stored. Puncture wounds tend to have more depth than width, which distinguishes them from cuts, where the reverse is true. Dettmeyer RB. J Forensic Sci. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but it is important to clean them. After an accident, quickly clear away debris, such as broken glass. Murmann et al underlined that animal bites, especially that of dogs and carnivorous wildlife, can produce multiple deep, streaked lacerations requiring a considerable force, and resulting in the loss of tissue or avulsions.32 Conventional techniques to analyze and/or match these patterns (acetate sheeting for example) can be used but the resulting visual model will not represent the real dynamic of the bite mark.8 It has been emphasized that quality and quantity of the material must be sufficient and convincing to defend a positive match. The dogs stretched and ripped the suspended victim, tightening the rope and producing a tourniquet effect. Fegan-Earl A. Ley de caza de perros asilvestrados: problema ecolgico o matanza injustificada? small puncture in the victim's cartilage. It was a public, painful, and slow form of execution, and used as a way to deter future crimes and humiliate the dying person. Animals, autopsies and artefacts. Burnadean Jones. Right: The calcaneus of Yehohanon ben Hagkol, with, transfixed nail. In fact, when a dog pack is involved, each member of the gang tears at the prey, fight over the parts, and eats the meat in a substantial quantity as quickly as possible.16 It is not uncommon for victims of dog attacks to be found naked, which may falsely suggest a rape rather than a dog mauling.2,17, Attacking incidents occur most frequently around the victims home. Stop the bleeding. Wounds caused by dog bites. Puncture wounds of the foot are a relatively common problem confronting the physician. 2002;74:1229012292. A bone fracture is the medical definition for a broken bone. 2. Dogs teeth have particular features, and the resulting bite marks are a major point of forensic interest mainly in the absence of witnesses or in cases where postmortem dog interference can be misinterpreted. Although the German Shepherd has been associated frequently with fatal attacks,15,44 this breed is not considered as dangerous by some legislation,45 and it is used by both the army and the police or as a guard dog.44 This is not a minor point; police dogs are trained to bite with strength, using the entire mouth (including their whole set of teeth), resulting in more serious wounds. slipped impression. As a result, the dogs incisors can be matched to the indentations on the plaster cast, representing a dynamic pattern of biting.8, Santoro et al16 reported a case of a 45-year-old man found dead on the ground of an abandoned military base with signs that he had been dragged. Available from: http://acuerdos.cl/debates/ley-de-caza-de-perros-asilvestrados-problema-ecologico-o-matanza-injustificada/. In 1992, Opeskin and Lee reported a case of a man who died from blunt throat trauma consistent with infliction by the head of a Greyhound dog.36 The key was the identification of an unprovoked and aggressive attitude toward the victim, and the resulting attack with fatal consequences. Both views are of the same individual. Keep the victim calm and still; movement will increase blood flow and transport the venom to the heart much faster. Professor Henrik Druid, Gabriel M Fonseca,1 Esther Mora,2 Joaquin Lucena,3 Mario Cantin,4 1Faculty of Dentistry, Laboratory of Forensic Dentistry, University of La Frontera, Temuco, Chile; 2Dental Sinai Hospital & Research Center, 3Forensic Pathology Service, Institute of Legal Medicine, Seville, Spain; 4Faculty of Dentistry, Doctoral Program in Morphological Science, Universidad La Frontera, Temuco, Chile Abstract: The interaction between domestic animals and humans has not been free of conflicts, and dog attacks represent a real problem, not only for the health consequences, but also for the possible criminal, and can affect the legal or financial outcomes. Contact Us Puncture Wound A puncture wound is the piercing of the body by a sharp-tipped object. Severity of injuries depends on multiple factors, including the type of weapon and bullet and the affected body area. They are known to strip skin and tissues from the face (complicating identification) and to consume the thoracic organs making the determination of the cause of death difficult.19,29 The evaluators may have great difficulties in evaluating underlying alcoholism or significant illnesses that may have resulted in falls with bruising.26. Cuts or puncture wounds that are minor may be treated at home. Occasionally you will find puncture wounds that are clear enough to identify the two upper and two lower canine marks of the predator, and measuring these with calipers or a ruler can be helpful. Gunshot wounds occur when a bullet hits the body, producing injuries. In the first case, nails would have been driven through the heel bones, and in the second case, one nail would have been hammered through the metatarsals in the middle of the foot. B. Let's look at symptoms and treatments. A knife wound can have a distinct patterns, especially if the wound is a penetrating wound or puncture. The intended goal of striking this area with a knife is to sever the spinal cord/brain stem. Most puncture wounds are minor, and home treatment is . Unless more bone material is found in the future, this is the sole known evidence of crucifixion from an archaeological excavation. 2010;31(2):198199. All rights reserved. Note this was caused by a fist. An insect bite or sting often causes a small, red lump on the skin, which may be painful and itchy. Singapore: Wiley-Blackwell; 2009. The injuries were photographed, and the distances between pairs of punctures were measured. In: Dorion RBJ, editor. Dove Medical Press is part of Taylor & Francis Group, the Academic Publishing Division of Informa PLC A careful look for potential footprints in bloodstains will allow for the detection of evidence of pets living free in the house or wild animals having possible access to the scene.12,13 Although domestic dogs do not feed on a corpse usually, they could be motivated by hunger to consume cadavers if they have no food available.12 Steadman and Worne reported in 2007 an interesting case in which a 54-year-old woman, who lived alone in her residence, was nearly completely consumed by her two domestic dogs (a Chow and a Labrador mix). 1991;8(1):3335. The cause of death was attributed to internal hemorrhage as a consequence of multiple fractures and external hemorrhage. A ruptured spleen can be a life threatening condition and requires immediate attention. Most of the dogs involved in these events are known to the victim or belong to him.28 A bite mark is defined as a physical alteration in a medium caused by the contact of teeth.9 When a bite mark is caused by an animal, the following three patterns can be observed: nonfatal bite wounds, fatal bite wounds, and postmortem lacerations of the victims body.2 This poses the major points and challenges of forensic interest; the nature and location of injuries and the final cause of death are not the only topics of attention.2,6,9 A careful assessment of wounds can reveal characteristic features of animal activity with typical patterns that may enable identification of the particular species of animal involved.10 Since dog attacks on humans represent a real health problem with obvious challenges for forensic investigation, a review focused on bite mark analysis from a multidisciplinary point of view is presented, and the current strategies for prevention and mitigation are discussed. [29] Select an answer and submit. Arch Emerg Med. Results. If the identity is known, past behavioral patterns or possibly training for attack must be explored.2,13,28 Scarring or healing injuries may advise prior fighting of the animal.13 It is important to collect any evidence belonging to the victim found on the animal: hair, blood, and cloth fibers. Punctures often happen as a result of falling onto a sharp object, though . Why did the murderer move the body to the V.A. When is a cut or puncture wound an emergency? Once the skin is clean, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to prevent infection. The skin may be tender, feel flushed, or have fang marks in the affected area. Santoro V, Smaldone G, Lozito P, Smaldone M, Introna F. A forensic approach to fatal dog attacks. 2002;116(5):295300. The flailing of arms, rapid movements, or attempts at self-defense by the victim can increase the intensity of the attacks (in fact, moving slowly or not moving at all can result in a reduction of this intensity).5 It has been mentioned that, in a pack situation, once an aggressive act is initiated, whether as a playful nip or a serious bite, dogs which singly taken are docile, may join and the pack instinct escalates the attack until the victim is killed or the dogs are driven off.6, We agree with Borchelt et al that the use of behavioral analysis and simulation methods to evaluate the possible factors in dog attacks can instill confidence in the observations when there is some doubt as to the cause of death in unwitnessed cases.
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