Profile of sharp weapon trauma cases in Jharkhand, India: An autopsy-based report

INTRODUCTION: Medical injury is a break of the natural continuity of any of the tissue of the living body. Sharp weapons are one of most violent means of death. This study documents the nature of injury among sharp weapon trauma cases and the cause of death among them. Studies also include the prevalence of the most frequently injured part of the body. It has always been a crucial and condemnable method of fatalities, either suicidal or homicidal. METHODS: It is an autopsy-based study conducted in the department of forensic medicine and toxicology at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, for the period of one year from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. The variables considered were gender, age, injury pattern, cause of death, etc. RESULTS: This study reports that the frequency of death due to sharp weapons in Ranchi is like some other studies conducted in different states of India. Our study reported that out of 2540 medico-legal deaths, 120 (4.72%) deaths were due to sharp weapons, including 91 (75.83%) males and 29 (24.17%) females. CONCLUSION: The study showed that most of the sharp weapon trauma cases were homicidal in nature which is common in 20–39 years. It is observed that sharp weapon cases were common in urban areas. Sharp weapon injuries may be ante-mortem or post-mortem and may be homicidal, accidental (rare), or fabricated in nature.