Further investigations utilizing a larger range of object weight and velocities are required to be able to fully classify minor traumatic injuries. Preliminary results indicate that this can be achieved by controlled experiments using a porcine model. Reflectance spectroscopy was found to be a useful tool to study immediate skin reactions to the trauma.

Determining the age of injuries is an important aspect of forensic medicine. Currently, visual inspection and colorimetric measurements are the most common techniques used to assess the age of bruises on a victim's body. Bruises are caused by trauma to the skin and vasculature, and the color will depend on the age, depth, and anatomic site of the hemorrhage. Breakdown products of hemoglobin e. g. biliverdin and bilirubin possess various colors, which can be determined spectrometrically. This study presents reflection spectra collected from bruises in otherwise healthy subjects. A total of 73 spectra of 25 bruises were measured on 13 individuals in the 400 -850 nm wavelength region. All injuries were caused by sports activities such as judo and soccer. The bruises were classified according to visual appearance, bilirubin content, oxygenation, and age of injury. Only bruises with known age and cause were included in the study. Spectral changes of each hematoma were recorded over several days. Preliminary results show large variation in the spectra, caused by differences in age and depth of the bruises. This data may provide a basis for developing an algorithm to determine the age of injuries in e. g. child abuse cases.

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