**4.6. Determination of blunt force injuries**

The presence, extent and pattern of contusion in victims with blunt force injuries have been defined as important evidences in the determination of the manner of death, individual abuse and sexual assault and identification of the striking object. The presence of situations such as skin opacity, surface texture and pigmentation, overlying abrasions and erythema may comprise an obstacle to a correct evaluation of skin lesions. IR radiation may penetrate the skin and be selectively absorbed by the blood. Thus, the determination of subdermal hematomas is possible using IR-imaging. IR-photography may be used to interpret and analyse traumatic injuries, determine the pattern of blunt force injuries and identify real abrasions from surface interferences, such as abrasions, lividity, dark pigmentation and post-mortem and artificial injuries. Furthermore, when an incision is not an option, IR-photography is an invaluable technique in forensic examinations of living victims of domestic violence, rape/sexual assaults and motor vehicle accidents [55].
