Applications of Histopathological Examination in the Evaluation of Traumatic Lesions

Abstract

Background: Across the globe, traumatic injuries remain one of the foremost reasons for emergency department attendance and surgical intervention. Although you gain valuable insights through direct clinical evaluation, confirming the precise nature, timing as well as complications of any traumatic lesions is only possible by performing thorough histopathological analysis of the tissues involved.To assess the histopathological characteristics of traumatic tissue specimens and evaluate their diagnostic utility in relation to clinical findings. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinnah Medical College and its affiliated teaching hospitals from January 2023 to January 2024. A total of 72 patients with trauma-related soft tissue injuries were included. Tissue specimens obtained through excision, incision, or resection were processed and analyzed microscopically. Variables assessed included type of inflammation, necrosis, hemorrhage, fibrosis, healing phase, and presence of foreign body reaction. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: The majority of patients were male (55.6%) and from rural areas. Firearm and blunt trauma were the most common injury types. Histologically, acute inflammation (47.2%) and necrosis (65.3%) were predominant findings. A strong association was found between injury duration and histological healing stage (p < 0.05). Final diagnoses included traumatic granuloma (37.5%), infected wounds (31.9%), and organizing hematomas (30.6%). Conclusion: Histopathological examination plays a critical role in confirming traumatic injury patterns, estimating the age of lesions, and identifying complications such as infection or foreign body reactions. Its use complements clinical diagnosis and is particularly valuable in surgical planning and medico-legal documentation.