Estimation of Age of Abrasion by Histopathology Examination: A Cross-Sectional Study

Context: In India, abrasions are usually dated by the naked-eye observation of gross changes. Various researches consider the dating of abrasion by naked-eye examination as an uncertain and variable method. This may have signifi cant medical and legal ramifi cations. To improve the Aims: accuracy of the dating of abrasion, histopathology profi ling has been suggested. To estimate the age of abrasion by histopathology examination. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2022. Methods and Materials: Total 102 abrasions from subjects aged 4 to 80 years were correlated with the time frame of the occurrence of diff erent microscopic changes that follow the abrasion. Abrasions ranging from 0.02 hours to >336 hours were studied, and based on the duration of infl iction, abrasions were divided into 10 groups. The representative area of abrasion with adjacent normal skin with an underlying soft tissue of thickness 0.5 cm to 1 cm was dissected and a control sample was taken of intact skin and preserved in 10% formalin solution for fi xation. The specimen was processed, and a histopathology slide was prepared and examined. Routine haematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining done. Van Gieson’s stain was used to confi rm the presence of collagen. Statistical analysis used: Data were analysed using SPSS version 20.0 software. P<0.0 was considered signifi cant. Descriptive data were expressed as frequency; for the age group of abrasions (quantitative data), mean and SD were calculated; Pearson’s chi-square test of independence was used to compare the microscopic changes in abrasion with the age of infl iction. Results: A significant relationship was observed between the age of abrasion and histopathology fi ndings (X281=552.92, P<0.001). Conclusions: The reliability and accuracy of dating of abrasion increases if a histopathology examination is performed along with gross examination. To opine the age of injury accurately, the autopsy surgeon should subject the samples to histopathology examination.