Can one accurately date a bruise? State of the science.

Forensic nursing experts and other health professionals often testify regarding the injuries women and men receive from violence. Bruise discoloration can provide an opportunity for health professionals to grossly estimate the age of impact and determine if it is consistent with a given reported history. However, there is much confusion in the literature and clinical practice as to the accuracy of dating bruises. This article will demonstrate that using the color of the bruise as the primary criteria to determine its age is not the best practice. The limited available research and related literature on the topic are flawed and inconsistent. Finally, recommendations will be made for future research and clinical practice.

Acute injury patterns of intimate partner violence victims.

Although millions of women receive injuries from intimate partner violence (IPV) each year in the United States alone, there has been only limited research of acute injury patterns and the types, locations, and mechanisms of IPV injuries. The mechanism of being punched to the face with a fist resulting in blunt trauma-related injuries is most commonly reported. Strangulation, especially manual strangulation, is a frequently cited mechanism of injury; however, less is known about the types of injuries that result from strangulation. In general, clinicians should assess all patients who present for treatment of head, neck, and face injuries for IPV. There is little consistency between and much inaccuracy with medical terms used to describe types of injuries. To increase the accuracy and generalizability of findings from studies of acute IPV injuries, researchers need to use more standardized medical forensic terminology.