Skin and soft tissue artifacts due to postmortem damage caused by rodents

Five cases of postmortem bite-injuries inflicted by rodents are presented ( five males between 41 and 89 years; three cases caused by mice, one case by rats, one case of possible mixed rodent activity by rats and mice). The st udy presents a spectrum of phenomenological aspects of postmortem artifacts due to rodent activity to fresh skin and soft tissue: the majority of the injuries have a circular appearance. The wound margins are finely serrated with irregular edges and circumscribed 1-2 mm intervals within, partly show ing protruding indentations up to 5 mm. Distinct parallel cutaneous lacerat ions deriving from the biting action of the upper and lower pairs of the ro dents incisors are diagnostic for tooth marks of rodent origin but cannot a lways be found. No claw-induced damage can be found in the skin beyond the wound margins. Areas involved in the present study were: exposed and unprot ected parts of the body, such as eyelids, nose and mouth (representing mois t parts of the face); and the back of the hands. Postmortem rodent activity may occasionally be expected on clothed and therefore protected parts of t he body. The phenomenon of postmortem rodent activity to human bodies can b e found indoors especially under circumstances of low socioeconomic setting s; outdoors this finding is particularly observed among fatalities among ho meless people. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.