Which type of injury is characterized by the 'sparrow foot' pattern?

Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2026

Explanation

The 'sparrow foot' pattern refers to a specific set of linear abrasions and lacerations on the skin.
This pattern is a classic sign in forensic pathology indicating a pedestrian has been struck by a motor vehicle.
The marks are an imprint of the vehicle's front components, such as the radiator grille, on the victim's body, typically the chest or abdomen.

Option A: Bomb blast injuries are categorized into primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary types, involving pressure waves, projectiles, and blunt force from being thrown. This mechanism does not create the specific imprint of a 'sparrow foot' pattern.
Option C: A contusion is a medical term for a bruise. It is a type of injury, not a cause. While the victim of a motor vehicle accident will likely have contusions, this term does not describe the specific 'sparrow foot' pattern.
Option D: The term 'collision' is too broad. A motor vehicle accident is a type of collision, but the 'sparrow foot' pattern is specifically associated with a pedestrian-vehicle impact, not all types of collisions (e.g., two vehicles colliding).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pattern Injuries in Trauma helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Recognizing pattern injuries like the 'sparrow foot' is crucial in forensic investigations to reconstruct the events of an accident, including the type of vehicle involved and the point of impact.
From a clinical perspective, identifying this pattern on a patient alerts the medical team to the high likelihood of severe underlying internal injuries to the chest and abdomen, such as rib fractures, lung contusions, or damage to the spleen and liver.
What if the pattern was on the legs? If a similar pattern injury were found on the legs, it might suggest a different point of impact (e.g., the bumper) and would guide clinicians to look for fractures of the tibia and fibula (bumper fracture) and associated vascular injuries.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question, which is 'sparrow foot' pattern. This is a very specific medical/forensic term.
Recognize that such a specific term likely has a single, classic cause.
Evaluate the options to see which one provides the most precise and well-known cause for this pattern.
Eliminate overly general options like 'Collision' and options that describe a type of injury rather than a cause, like 'Contusion'.
Recall or deduce that patterned abrasions are often caused by an object imprinting on the skin, leading you to the front grille of a car in a 'Motor vehicle accident'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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