Morphological features of skin injuries caused by contact electric shock devices under various conditions

Abstract

Background. Electroshock devices are a type of non-lethal weapon and are widely used, including law enforcement as a special weapon. At the same time, the systematized data concerning the forensic medical assessment of injuries caused by electric shock devices are extremely limited, which makes it advisable to study injuries of this nature. Objective. Study of macroscopic and microscopic changes on biological material resulting from the electric impact of electroshock devices in the condition of close contact electrodes with skin and from a distance, as well as through various fabric materials of closing. An object of this study are morphological changes in the skin resulting from the electric discharges of electroshock weapon. Methods. During the experiment, the electric discharges were applied to the skin flaps using electric shock devices. The duration of electrical discharges was 5-8 seconds. A macroscopic study of skin changes obtained due to the electric impact of electric shock devices was carried out, as well as a study of microscopic skin changes after standard staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Results. It was found that under the condition of close contact of the electrodes of electric shock devices with the surface of the skin, with a discharge duration of 5-8 seconds, no macroscopically distinguishable lesions were found on the skin. Microscopic examination revealed minor changes. Under the condition of causing damage from a distance of about 0.5-1 cm, which was accompanied with the passage of a spark discharge between the electrodes and the skin, the formation of macroscopically visible changes resembling the typical electric burn was observed. A similar pattern was observed when damage was applied through layers of fabric (cotton, linen, polyester), but the electric impact through different fabric demonstrate some differences in the morphology of skin lesions. Microscopic examination in skin tissues revealed pronounced changes inherent to thermal and electrical injuries. Conclusion. Differences in the morphological manifestations of skin lesions can be used in the practice of forensic medicine for determination of the usage conditions of electroshock devices.