The fourth incision: A few modifications in autopsy incisions.

ABSTRACT

Medico legal autopsy is a procedure, where there cannot be any omission on the part of the autopsy surgeon; all the part of the body must be examined for any kind of injury or any disease / deformity, all the cavities are to be opened and all the viscera must be examined for the findings. It is an art on the part of the autopsy surgeon to find out more and more information in relation to the death of the person so as to help the judiciary in administration of justice. He should be cautious not to mutilate the dead body so as to minimize the trauma to the already traumatized bereaved family of the deceased. Autopsy incision is to serve both the purposes - get maximum exposure of the body for proper detection of the wound and any other findings as well as to keep the integrity of the body intact for better acceptance for the relatives of the deceased. This paper is aimed to describe few new additions as well as modifications in the autopsy incisions to get maximum possible visualisation of the whole circumference of the body as well as keep the stitches hidden as far as possible.