Physical activity following fatal injury from sharp pointed weapons.

Cases of suicide from sharp pointed weapons (n = 12) witnessed by one or more persons are reported with regard to the potential for physical activity. One case each involved the ulnar artery, the great saphenous vein and the periphery of the lung and liver and the physical activity following these injuries lasted for several hours. In one case, the left carotid and vertebral arteries were transected and the physical activity lasted for approximately 10 s. An extraordinary case involved a protracted incapacitation due to heart tamponade from a small myocardial injury caused by a cannula. In the remaining seven cases, a stab wound to the heart was present. With regard to the physical activity, a long-term group (2-10 min, n = 4) can be differentiated from a short-term group (approximately 10 s, n = 2) and one case of immediate incapacitation. The size of the myocardial perforation was 7-10 mm in length in the long-term group compared to 1.4-2 cm in the short-term group. So small perforations of the heart or incisions of the carotid artery offer a potential for considerable physical activity. Large perforations of the heart or a transection of the carotid and vertebral arteries can result in short-term activity.