The Forensic Pathology of Liver Trauma

The forensic pathologist is an integral part of the trauma surgery team. Trauma surgeons depend on autopsy descriptions for accurate measurement of the severity of trauma and determination of the chance of mortality. The outcome of liver injury improved greatly during the 20th century, primarily due to improved diagnostic and management techniques. In many trauma cases, survival depends on injuries to areas other than the liver. Measurement of the severity of liver trauma often uses the TRISS (Trauma and Injury Severity Score) method, which depends on the nature, location, and size of injuries. Injuries produced by blunt trauma depend on the direction of the force and its interaction with the anatomic structures that surround the liver. Sharp force and gunshot injuries depend on the portions of the liver involved and the amount of kinetic energy transmitted to the tissue. The liver is susceptible to injury from resuscitation, although these injuries are usually not severe. Acad Forensic Pathol. 2018 8(2): 184-191.