Injuries and wounds: dicing injuries from glass: 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 and wounds: dicing injuries from glass

Sample item

A driver survives a road collision and has numerous tiny superficial cuts and abrasions in parallel rows over one side of the face. There are no deep gashes. Which mechanism best explains the pattern?

AFriction from the seat belt across the faceBLarge sharp slivers from a laminated windscreenCShattering of a toughened glass side window into small blunt cubesDBurns from airbag deployment

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Shattering of a toughened glass side window into small blunt cubes

Toughened (tempered) glass breaks into many small cubes with blunt edges, and these produce clusters of small superficial cuts and abrasions known as dicing injuries. Laminated glass instead tends to produce fewer, larger and deeper lacerations. The pattern shows which window was struck.

Option by option

A. Friction from the seat belt across the face
A seat belt would leave a diagonal pressure abrasion on the chest, not rows over the face.
B. Large sharp slivers from a laminated windscreen
Large slivers would cause long and deep lacerations, not tiny superficial marks.
C. Shattering of a toughened glass side window into small blunt cubes (correct)
Correct. Small blunt cubes of toughened glass cause multiple shallow dicing wounds.
D. Burns from airbag deployment
Airbag burns produce thermal abrasions and do not form clusters of tiny cuts.

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 C, Shattering of a toughened glass side window into small blunt cubes. Toughened (tempered) glass breaks into many small cubes with blunt edges, and these produce clusters of small superficial cuts and abrasions known as dicing injuries.

Why is "Friction from the seat belt across the face" not the answer?

A seat belt would leave a diagonal pressure abrasion on the chest, not rows over the face.

Why is "Large sharp slivers from a laminated windscreen" not the answer?

Large slivers would cause long and deep lacerations, not tiny superficial marks.

Why is "Burns from airbag deployment" not the answer?

Airbag burns produce thermal abrasions and do not form clusters of tiny cuts.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries and wounds: dicing injuries from glass in Forensic Medicine. Laminated glass instead tends to produce fewer, larger and deeper lacerations. The pattern shows which window was struck.

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 and wounds: dicing injuries from glass?

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.