Retrospective study on skin reddenings and petechiae in the eyelids and the conjunctivae in forensic physical examinations.

Skin reddening with or without additional changes such as pinpoint intracutaneous hemorrhages and/or minute superficial scratches was observed in 165 out of 739 physical examinations (reddening with additional changes: n = 81; reddening only: n = 84). The most common site where reddening was observed was the neck region (reddening with additional changes: n = 30; reddening only: n = 34). In over 85% of the cases, the postinfliction interval (Pi) was < or = 1 day, and there were 12 and 10 cases with 1 < Pi < or = 3 days, respectively. Among these 22 cases, there were 5 cases with 2 < Pi < or = 3 days, (reddening with additional changes: n = 4; reddening only: n = 1). The maximum Pis were almost 3 days, and 2 days and 13 h, respectively. These results demonstrate that reddening of the skin with and that without additional changes (in particular petechiae) were detectable up to approximately 3 and 2 days after the event, respectively. Furthermore, in 17 out of 64 cases with reddening in the neck, petechial hemorrhages were seen in the eyelids and/or conjunctivae (reddening with additional changes: n = 10; reddening only: n = 7). The maximum Pi in which petechial hemorrhages were detectable in the eyelids and/or the palpebral conjunctivae was 1 day and 21 h. The present study indicates that physical examinations within 2 or 3 days after the event seem to be more suitable to find skin reddening and/or petechiae in the eye lids and/or the conjunctivae.