An unusual case of self-harm with petroleum distillate
Musshoff, F.; Schmidt, P.; Madea, B.; Pohl, C.
Archiv für Kriminologie 205(1-2): 37-43
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9225 PMID: 10726174 Document Number: 525405
After surgical treatment of an inguinal hernia, a 26-year-old male was discharged from hospital with a well healing surgical wound. Four weeks later he was admitted again with a major localized painful swelling of the soft tissues, whereas the clinical examination revealed no further local or systemic signs of inflammation. The immediate operation disclosed no abscess formation, but a large colliquation necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue with an outstanding petroleum-like odour. On toxicological examination of the necrotic tissue, a respective petroleum distillate was found. The patient was confronted with the suspicion of having injected the petroleum preparation himself to prolong the wound healing and finally admitted the self-mutilating behaviour. The pathophysiology, clinical history and morphological findings are discussed in comparison with case reports of chemically induced self-mutilation.