“Meth-Skin” in the Differential Diagnosis of Trauma in Forensic Medicine Practices: Two Cases

Authors: Ozdemir M*

DOI: 10.23880/ijfsc-16000438

Volume 10, Issue 1

Abstract

Introduction: Regardless of their origin, all injury cases are forensic cases. In forensic medicine practices, the factors that cause traumatic changes in the body, the localization of traumatic changes, their qualities, degrees of severity, origin and age of the wound are evaluated. One of the conditions with dermatological findings that can be confused with lesions such as blunt traumatic and cigarette burns in forensic medicine practices is prurigo, also called " meth -skin", which occurs with repeated manipulations in chronic methamphetamine users nodularis and excoriations. Cases: They are two men, aged 21 and 25, who were brought to the forensic medicine clinic at different times for a medical examination before detention. Multiple lesions were observed on the hands and both knees of one patient, and on the forehead and all extremities of the other patient. A differential diagnosis of trauma was made by evaluating the history and examination findings together. Conclusion: In order to treat the medical problems of the applicants in a timely manner and to prevent errors in the judicial process, lesions due to drug use should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis during the examination of forensic cases. In the forensic report, these lesions should be described in detail and possible causes should be mentioned.

Keywords: Forensic Medicine; Methamphetamine; Forensic Traumatology; Dermatology; Wound

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