Ferning is seen in which type of injuries?

• A. Lightning Injuries
• B. Thermal Burns
• C. Blunt Trauma
• D. Drowning Injuries

Answer: (A)

Ferning refers to fern-like, branching skin markings that occur with lightning injuries. These patterns, known as Lichtenberg figures, arise from the explosive, high-voltage discharge as it traverses the body, causing superficial capillary ruptures that form tree-like, ferny markings on the skin. They are a distinctive clue for lightning injury and help differentiate it from thermal burns (which show more uniform burn patterns), blunt trauma (which produces contusions and abrasions), or drowning injuries (which involve signs related to asphyxia).