Development of a scale for evaluating the severity of disfigurements caused by injuries disease or surgery

Vesna S. Rakic; Bosiljka Đikanović; Djordje Alempijević; Radoje Simić; Slobodan Bogdanović; Zlata Janjić; Dejan  Vulović

doi:10.2298/VSP160619287R

Vesna S. Rakic Clinic for Burns, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade
Bosiljka Đikanović Institute for Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Belgrade , Serbia
Djordje Alempijević Forensic Medicine Institute in Belgrade, Serbia
Radoje Simić Institute for Health Protection of Mother and Child of Serbia „dr Vukan Čupić“, Belgrade,Serbia
Slobodan Bogdanović Clinic for Burns, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade
Zlata Janjić Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Dejan Vulović Clinical Center of Kragujevac, Clinic for Plastic Surgery, Kragujevac, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP160619287R

Keywords: forensic medicine;, surgery, plastic;, cicatrix;, compensation and redress;, weights and measures;, surveys and questionnaires.

Abstract

Background/Aim. Medico-legal aspect of physical disfigurements has been subject of few scientific researches. The aim of this study was to establish a standardized instrument for forensic evaluation of all kinds of physical disfigurements, which has not existed until now. Methods. The research was conducted in 3 phases: the first one – drafting a list of disfigurements; the second phase – evaluation of the draft of the disfigurement list provided by 11 experts (plastic surgery lecturers) by the use of the Delphy method; the third one during which 51 medical doctors, members of Serbian Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery were evaluating the list of disfigurements. Results. Totally 176 individual physical disfigurements were described in the first phase of research. In the second phase, 217 disfigurements were established which were classified into 5 degrees of severity 0 – none/very small, 1 – small, 2 – medium, 3 – large, 4 – very large disfigurements. In the third phase, 217 disfigurements were evaluated. Conclusion. The first 4-point ordinal scale was established, rating 217 disfigurements, which showed high level of compatibility in practice and which can be used as an instrument for standardization of disfigurements in giving of forensic expertise.

Author Biography

Vesna S. Rakic, Clinic for Burns, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade

Specijalista plastične i rekonstruktivne hirurgije

Magistar neurohirurgije

References

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