Autopsy assessment of liver lacerations. A study of 62 cases

The results of 127 consecutive autopsies on victims of motor vehicle, train and tractor accidents were analysed to determine the incidence, extent and severity of liver injury as well as to formulate a method of grading such injuries relevant to forensic autopsy practice. All liver lacerations noted were assigned an injury-assessment index. The features which emerge from the study are as follows: (i) almost 50% of the the victims had liver lacerations; (ii) in almost 75% of these, multiple lacerations were present; and (iii) in over 33% of those with liver lacerations severe liver injury in the form of lobal transection was present. The implementation of injury-assessment indices as a matter of routine in the grading of traumatic lesions at autopsy is suggested.