CFN Wound Assessment and Injury Documentation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of wound is characterized by torn, irregular edges caused by blunt force trauma?
- Laceration (Correct answer)
- Incision
- Abrasion
- Puncture
Correct answer: Laceration
Lacerations have irregular, torn edges resulting from blunt force stretching tissue beyond its elastic limits, unlike the clean edges of incised wounds.
Question 2: Which color change sequence is generally observed as a bruise heals over time?
- Red/Blue-Purple → Green → Yellow/Brown (Correct answer)
- Yellow → Green → Blue → Red
- Blue → Red → Yellow → Green
- Purple → Black → Red → Yellow
Correct answer: Red/Blue-Purple → Green → Yellow/Brown
Bruises progress from red/blue-purple when fresh to green then yellow/brown as hemoglobin breaks down into biliverdin and bilirubin.
Question 3: Which wound type is MOST commonly associated with defensive injuries on the upper extremities?
- Blunt force contusions (Correct answer)
- Incised wounds
- Linear abrasions
- Bite marks
Correct answer: Blunt force contusions
Contusions on the forearms and hands are classic defensive wounds when a victim raises their arms to block blows directed at the head or torso.
Question 4: What is the MOST reliable method for documenting wound size in forensic practice?
- Photography with an ABFO No. 2 scale ruler (Correct answer)
- Visual estimation by the examiner
- Comparison to common household objects
- Digital measurement from patient description
Correct answer: Photography with an ABFO No. 2 scale ruler
Photography with a standardized ABFO No. 2 ruler provides objective, reproducible wound size documentation that is admissible in court proceedings.
Question 5: A patterned injury that mirrors the shape of the weapon or object used is BEST described as:
- Imprint contusion (Correct answer)
- Petechial hemorrhage
- Excoriation
- Hematoma
Correct answer: Imprint contusion
An imprint (patterned) contusion reproduces the shape of the causative object — such as a belt buckle or cord pattern — within the bruised tissue.
Question 6: When using an alternate light source (ALS) for injury detection, what wavelength range is MOST commonly used?
- 415–450 nm (violet/blue) (Correct answer)
- 700–800 nm (infrared)
- 200–280 nm (UV-C)
- 550–600 nm (green-yellow)
Correct answer: 415–450 nm (violet/blue)
Violet/blue wavelengths (415–450 nm) cause fluorescence of biological fluids and can reveal injuries not visible to the naked eye under standard lighting.
Question 7: In forensic injury documentation, which characteristic of a bruise is LEAST reliable for dating the injury?
- Color (Correct answer)
- Shape
- Size
- Location
Correct answer: Color
Bruise color is highly unreliable for dating injuries because color progression varies significantly based on skin tone, depth, age, and individual physiology.
CFN Wound Assessment and Injury Documentation 1
What type of wound is characterized by torn, irregular edges caused by blunt force trauma?