Injuries: chop wound: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Injuries: chop wound

Sample item

A man attacked from behind has a deep gaping wound over the shoulder. The underlying bone is cleanly cut through, and the skin margins are abraded and bruised. Which type of wound is this?

AA chop wound, from a heavy sharp-edged weaponBA lacerated wound, from a blunt objectCA stab wound, from a pointed bladeDA superficial incised wound, from a razor

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. A chop wound, from a heavy sharp-edged weapon

A chop wound is produced by a heavy sharp-edged weapon such as an axe, hatchet or sword. It combines features of incised and blunt injury: a deep gaping wound that cuts through bone, with abraded and bruised margins from the weight of the weapon. The depth and bone involvement distinguish it from ordinary incised wounds.

Option by option

A. A chop wound, from a heavy sharp-edged weapon (correct)
Correct. Deep cutting of bone with bruised margins is typical of a heavy sharp weapon.
B. A lacerated wound, from a blunt object
A lacerated wound has ragged margins and tissue bridges, not a clean cut through bone.
C. A stab wound, from a pointed blade
A stab wound is deeper than it is long and made by a pointed instrument, without a long gaping cut.
D. A superficial incised wound, from a razor
A razor makes a superficial clean incised wound without cutting bone.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, A chop wound, from a heavy sharp-edged weapon. A chop wound is produced by a heavy sharp-edged weapon such as an axe, hatchet or sword.

Why is "A lacerated wound, from a blunt object" not the answer?

A lacerated wound has ragged margins and tissue bridges, not a clean cut through bone.

Why is "A stab wound, from a pointed blade" not the answer?

A stab wound is deeper than it is long and made by a pointed instrument, without a long gaping cut.

Why is "A superficial incised wound, from a razor" not the answer?

A razor makes a superficial clean incised wound without cutting bone.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries: chop wound in Forensic Medicine. It combines features of incised and blunt injury: a deep gaping wound that cuts through bone, with abraded and bruised margins from the weight of the weapon. The depth and bone involvement distinguish it from ordinary incised wounds.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Injuries: chop wound?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.