TEARS
Definition
The systematic mnemonic for anogenital findings: Tears (lacerations or fissures), Ecchymosis (bruising), Abrasions (superficial skin loss), Redness (erythema, which may be non-specific), Swelling (oedema). Each category is documented by location, size, and characteristics.
- Type
- Mnemonic acronym
- Categories
- Tears, Ecchymosis, Abrasions, Redness, Swelling
- Context
- Anogenital injury documentation
- Documentation detail
- Location, size, and characteristics per finding
Common questions
Why is redness (erythema) included in TEARS if it is described as non-specific?+
Erythema is documented because it is a real observable finding, but examiners are trained to weight it cautiously since it can result from normal friction, hygiene products, or minor irritation as easily as from trauma, so it supports a finding only in combination with other more specific injuries.
Is the TEARS mnemonic used the same way for adult and paediatric examinations?+
The categories apply to anogenital injury documentation generally, but interpretation differs by age because normal anatomic variants and healing patterns differ between prepubertal children and postpubertal adolescents or adults, which is why findings are always read alongside developmental stage.
Related terms
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- Posterior Fourchette
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