Gunshot Wounds

Abstract

In the med ico-legal assessment of cases of aggression with firearms, imaging techniques have a particularly important role, especially in the study of a bullet’s path through the victim’s body. The analysis of these trajectories can be performed by the use of three-dimensional reconstitution techniques, namely Three-Dimensional Multi-Slice Computed Tomography (3D-MSCT). This imaging technique has been widely used in fatal cases, as a very important complement of the classical autopsy procedures, becoming known as ‘‘virtual autopsy” or ‘‘Virtopsy”. To our knowledge, no reports describing the use of 3D-MSCT in nonfatal cases have been described in the medico-legal literature. The authors present a case of a man with a gunshot injury, in the context of a multiple aggressor situation, in which it was not possible to extract the bullet. To accurately determine the bullet’s trajectory, 3D-MSCT was performed, thus contributing to a more reliable reconstruction of the crime scene in which ...

Characteristics of the bullet and of the tissues through which it travels. In addition to the mass and velocity of the bullet, its orientation and whether it fragments or deforms affect the nature of the wound. Two major mechanisms of wounding are described: crushing and stretching of tissue. Understanding the mechanisms by which bullets disrupt tissue can help physicians to evaluate and treat wounds. The characteristics and severity of a gunshot wound are determined by the design of the weapon and projectile, the intermediate targets the projectile encounters between the gun muzzle and the body, and the sequence of tissues encountered along the projectile path. Although the skill of the person firing the weapon affects the trajectory, chance also plays a role. If the missile path includes a large bone, or if the projectile strikes a button, belt buckle, or other hard object, the seventy of the wound often increases [1, 2]. To some extent, whether the bullet hits a particular wound modifying structure...

Additional Resource: Gunshot Wounds: 1. Bullets, Ballistics, and Mechanisms of Injury (2831 downloads )

Case
9-1-1 receives a call from the owner of a liquor store near the county line who has just been shot in the face by a robber. The man is alert and coherent with slurred speech. He is requesting immediate assistance from police and ambulance. He warns dispatchers that he anticipates the return of the thief because, in his haste to escape with the cash, the perpetrator forgot his wallet. Shortly thereafter, the 9-1-1 operator hears shouting and two distinct sets of gunshots. Introduction
Firearms and gunshot wounds are now common in today’s society. Hot debate continues to rage regarding cause, effect and the best way to handle the ever- increasing number of deaths resulting from guns. Emergency services must also examine their response to such an environment. This article provides a brief overview of current information on the subject. Before You Arrive Prior to arriving on the scene of a shooting, assess the situation. Security is paramount. Has law