Pattern of Facial Soft Tissue Injuries in Fatal Maxillofacial Trauma: An Autopsy-Based Study

Abstract

Background: Soft tissue injuries of the maxillofacial region are common in fatal trauma and provide valuable information regarding the mechanism, direction, severity of impact, and medico-legal reconstruction of events. Although fractures have been extensively studied, limited literature exists regarding the distribution of external facial soft tissue injuries observed during medicolegal autopsy. The Aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern and distribution of soft tissue maxillofacial injuries among fatal trauma victims undergoing medicolegal autopsy. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional autopsy-based observational study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur. One hundred medicolegal autopsy cases with traumatic maxillofacial injuries were included. Information regarding demographics, injury characteristics and external facial soft tissue injuries was collected using a structured proforma. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and expressed as frequencies and percentages.  Results:  Among the 100 cases, males constituted 89% while females accounted for 11%. Road traffic accidents were responsible for 90% of cases. Abrasion was the commonest external facial injury (73%), followed by laceration (33%), diffuse swelling (21%), stitched wounds (20%), bruises (6%) and crush injuries (5%). The maxillary region was the most frequently involved facial region (53%), followed by the mandibular (44%), zygomatic (41%), eyelids (37%), nose (34%), eyebrows (21%) and lips (9%).  Conclusion: Soft tissue facial injuries demonstrate characteristic anatomical distribution in fatal trauma and may assist forensic experts in reconstructing injury mechanisms and identifying impact patterns. Documentation of these injuries has significant medico-legal importance.

Keywords: Maxillofacial trauma, Soft tissue injury, Facial injury, Autopsy, Abrasion, Medico-legal