Evaluation of forensic cases in terms of functional weakness/loss occurred in the sensories and organs

Forensic Medicine is a branch of science that provides expert witness services to the law and does this by grading the severity of injuries. The situation of permanent weakening or loss of function of one of the senses or organs is evaluated under the title of "Crimes Against Physical Inviolability" in the Turkish Penal Code and is among the factors that aggravate the crime. In our study, the final reports prepared by the Fırat University Forensic Medicine Department between the years 2020-2024 were scanned and the files of the cases that were in the nature of permanent weakening or loss of function of one of the senses or organs were evaluated retrospectively. The aim was to examine the cases, age, gender, application year, time from the incident to the report, type of incident, existence of life-threatening conditions, whether there were bone fractures/dislocations and their effects on vital functions, whether there was a weakening or loss of senses or organs, and the characteristics of the situations that created this. In our study, it was determined that 76 (90.5%) of the 84 cases were male and 8 (9.5%) were female, and when examined according to age groups, the most cases were in the 30-39 age group with 18 (21.4%) cases. 11.9% of the cases were under the age of 19 (n=10), and 13.1% (n=11) were over the age of 59. In the examined reports, it was seen that the injury was life-threatening in 45 (53.57%) cases. It was determined that there was a bone fracture/dislocation in 65 (77.39%) cases out of all the cases. It was determined that there was no case that slightly affected vital functions in these fractures, moderately in 19 (22.6%) cases, and severely in 46 (54.76%) cases. In our study, it was determined that 62 (73.8%) of the 84 cases had functional impairment and 24 (28.5%) had functional loss. When evaluated according to accident types; it was seen that the most common type of accident that caused functional impairment was non-vehicular traffic accidents with 83.3%, and the most common type of accident that caused functional loss was firearm injuries with 50%. In our study, extremity fractures play an important role among injuries that cause permanent weakening or loss of function of one of the senses or organs and mostly affect young adults. Therefore, prevention of traffic accidents is of great importance in the formation of disability.