- Wound channel length is a morphological criterion for assessing the force of a knife strike.
- Clothing, bone and cartilage structures and internal organ density did not affect knife blade immersion depth.
- Length thresholds: <6 cm non penetrating indicates moderate force; 6 to 15 cm indicates middle; >15 cm indicates considerable force.
Sud Med Ekspert. 2026;69(4):14-18. doi: 10.17116/sudmed20266904114.
ABSTRACT
The length of the wound channel of a stab wound is a morphological feature that can serve as a criterion for assessing the degree of force of a knife strike. A study of 412 stab wounds to the chest and abdomen in 252 homicide cases showed that clothing, bone-cartilaginous structures and the density of internal organs did not affect the depth of immersion of the knife blade in the wound. The wound channel of non-penetrating wounds with a length of less than 6 cm indicates an impact of «moderate» force. The length of the wound channel of penetrating wounds from 6 to 15 cm corresponds to an impact of «middle» force, and over 15 cm corresponds to an impact inflicted with «considerable» force.
PMID:42555799 | DOI:10.17116/sudmed20266904114
Share Evidence Blueprint
Save to Google Notes
Search Google Scholar
Save as PDF
⭐ My Revision List
