Fatal anorectal trauma in the setting of sexual assault: case report and literature survey.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2010
Abstract
Homicides exclusively due to genital trauma have not been widely reported, and anorectal trauma in sexual assaults is uncommon. We describe a case of a 45-year-old white woman who sustained devastating homicidal colorectal trauma that served as a primary cause of death in the setting of rape. Our patient sustained a 15-cm laceration of the anterior rectal wall and ultimately died of peritonitis and sepsis. Death from rectal perforation and sepsis in the setting of sexual assault is rare and has only been documented in 3 other cases, 2 pediatric patients and 1 elderly debilitated patient. Other representative and unique methods of perforation are reviewed along with a brief discussion of the development of peritonitis after perforating colorectal trauma.
Volume
31
Issue
3
First Page
273
Last Page
277
ISSN
1533-404X
Published In/Presented At
Kovelman, I., Vey, E., & Schober, J. (2010). Fatal anorectal trauma in the setting of sexual assault: case report and literature survey. The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology, 31(3), 273–277. https://doi.org/10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181e13269
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
20512029
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article