UN Manual on the effective prevention and investigation of extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions - ST/CSDHA/12 - 1991 - Annex II. Postmortem detection of torture
| Torture technique | Physical findings |
| Beating |  |
| 1. General | Scars. Bruises. Lacerations. Multiple fractures at different stages of healing, especially in unusual locations, which have not been medically treated. |
| 2. To the soles of the feet ("falanga", "falaka", "bastinado"), or fractures of the bones of the feet. | Haemorrhage in the soft tissues of the soles of the feet and ankles. Aseptic necrosis. |
| 3. With the palms on both ears simultaneously ("el telefone"). | Ruptured or scarred tympanic membranes. Injuries to external ear. |
| 4. On the abdomen, while lying on a table with the upper half of the body unsupported ("operating table", "el quirofano"). | Bruises on the abdomen. Back injuries. Ruptured abdominal viscera. |
| 5. To the head. | Cerebral cortical atrophy. Scars. Skull fractures. Bruises. Haematomas. |
| Suspension | |
| 6. By the wrists ("la bandera"). | Bruises or scars about the wrists. Joint injuries. |
| 7. By the arms or neck. | Bruises or scars at the site of binding. Prominent lividity in the lower extremities. |
| 8. By the ankles ("murcielago") | |
| 9. Head down, from a horiyontal pole placed under the knees with the wrists bound to the ankles ("parrot's perch", "Jack", "pau de arara"). | Bruises or scars on the anterior forearms and backs of the knees/ Marks on the wrists and ankles. |
| Near suffocation | |
| 10. Forced immersion of head in water, often contaminated "wet submarine", "pileta", "Latina"). | Faecal material or other debris in the mouth, pharynx, trachea, esophagus or lungs. Intrathoracic petechiae. Intra-thoracic petechiae. |
| 11. Tying of a plastic bag over the head ("dry submarine"). | Intro-thoracic petechiae. |
| Sexual abuse | |
| 12. Sexual abuse | Sexually transmitted diseases. Pregnancy. Injuries to breasts, external genitalia, vagina, anus or rectum. |
| Forced posture | |
| 13. Prolonged standing ("el planton"). | Dependent edema. Petechiae in lower extremities. |
| 14. Forced straddling of a bar ("saw horse", "el cabellete"). | |
| 15. Cattle prod ("la picana"). | Burns: appearance depends on the age of the injury. Immediately: red spots, vesicles, and/or black exudate. Within a few weeks: circular, reddish, macular scars. At several months: small, white, reddish or brown sports resembling telangiectasias. |
| 16. Wires connected to a source of electricity. | |
| 17. Heated metal skewer inserted into the anus ("black slave"). | Peri-anal or rectal burns. |
| Miscellaneous | |
| 18. Dehydration (spiders, insects, rats, mice, dogs) | Vitreous humor electrolyte abnormalities. |