Rifle , pistol, revolver Injuries

Firearm Injuries

Weapons may produce two wounds, Entry wound and Exit wound.

When a weapon is discharged, the projectile leaves the muzzle at its maximum velocity and is accompanied by a flame, hot gases under considerable pressure , Soot, discharge of burnt, and un burnt particles At close ranges all these will cause injury to the body giving entry wound many special characteristics which the exit wound will lacks.

The appearance of entry wound and its extent are also influenced by the 1. Type of weapon and its caliber2. Nature of the projectile 3.Powder used 4. Site of body hit, and 5.Striking velocity.

Rifle Firearm Effects CO Less then 6 inchesPink discolorationFlame 6 inches (1/2 foot) Burning /singeingof hair and clothesSoot ( smoke) 12 inches ( 1 foot)BlackeningGun powder (unburnt particles)36 inches (3 feet. 1 meter)Tattooing

Rifle Firearm Injuries on entry wound depend upon four distance a. Contact Range shotb. Close range Shot few inchesc. Near range shot 1-2 feetd. Distant Range shot.

A.CONTACT RANGE SHOTA. Tight contact over soft tissues:Possible muzzle impressionCircular hole with abrasion collar. Grease collar is presentBruisingLocal reddening from heat and monoxide (cherry red color).Little or No propellant soiling or powder tattooing.

B. Tight contact over underlying boneSplit or cruciate woundLocal reddening and monoxideBruisingLittle or no surface burning or propellant soilingAbrasion collar partly lost on skin tags.

C. Discharge from less than 15cm(6inches)Circular hole with abrasion collar Flame burn on surrounding skinBurnt hairsBlacking (depending on ammunition).tattooing.Little or no CO in tissues.

D. Discharge from 15cm to 30cm(6 to 12 inches)No soot, but perhaps powder tattooing, depending on barrel length.No monoxideRarely flame burns

E. Discharge from more than 40-60cm(16-24inches)Circular hole with abrasion collar.No burning, soiling, burnt hairs or monoxide.

F. Far distant Discharge at limit of range:Larger irregular hole with irregular abrasion rim caused by tumbling bulletNo other features.

POINT BLANK (VERY CLOSE RANGE): Circular wounds are produced and abrasion collar as well as grease collar is present. There is extensive burning ,singeing, blackening and tattooing due to large amount of flame, smoke and un burnt carbon particles.

Smooth Bore Firearm effects Gases ( CO )6 inches ( 1/2 foot )Blow back effect, cherry red colorationFlame 12 inches ( 1 foot ) Burning /singeingof hair and clothesSoot ( smoke) 24 inches ( 2 feet)BlackeningGun powder (unburnt particles)6 feet ( 2 meters) TatttooingWads, Cards3-6 metersMinor injuries

SMOOTH BORE SHOT GUNS

A. Tight contact discharge over soft tissuesSingle circular wound about diameter of muzzleSmooth marginsOften muzzle imprintBlackened edgeNo surrounding smoke soilingDeep bruisingPink tissuesWads in wound

B. Tight contact discharge over skull or bony area: As last type but wound may be ragged and split from gas rebound.

C. Discharge within a few centimeters:Circular wound , unless oblique dischargeSmooth or slightly crenated margin.No satellite pellet holesSurrounding soot soiling TattooingBurning of surrounding skinBurnt hairsPink monoxide in tissuesWads in wound

D. Discharge from 30cm(12inches)Circular rat hole wound with nibbled margins.No satellite pellet holes.Soot soiling may persistPowder Tattooing presentLittle or no monoxide Still burning of skin and hairsWads in wound

Rat hole injury / Cookie cutter phenomenon/ Moth eaten appearance of wound of entry

In case of shot gun fire, up till 1 meter (3feet) all the pellets make a single large hole.after 3 feet the edges of the wound will become crenated. From 2 meters upwards, the number of satellite pellet holes will progressively increase around the main wound.

E. Discharge from 1 to 5meters (39 to 195 inches)

Central rat hole woundSatellite pellet holes around periphery.No burningNo sootMay be slight tattooing at 1 meterNo monoxide

F. Discharge over 5meter(195inches)

Diffuse pellet patternProbably no central Hole No burning, soot , tattooing, CO, no wads.

Smooth Bore Firearm effects Gases ( CO )6 inches ( 1/2 foot )Blow back effect, cherry red colorationFlame 12 inches ( 1 foot ) Burning /singeingof hair and clothesSoot ( smoke) 24 inches ( 2 feet)BlackeningGun powder (unburnt particles)6 feet ( 2 meters) TattooingWads, Cards3-6 metersMinor injuries

Exit woundsExit wound may be stellate , circular, cruciate , elliptical , crescent or star shaped (more common on scalp).

. Exit wounds do not show any burning, blackening, tattooing, abrasion or contusion collar. The edges are everted, torn with pieces of contused, haemorrhagic subcutaneous fat or muscle protruding out of the defect. Some times even the bullet may protrude out of an exit wound.

Variations in shape and size of exit wounds1.When bullet tumbles in the body and fails to exit nose-end-first2. When the bullet is deformed 3. When the bullets exists as many pieces after breaking up in the tissues4. When the fragments of bone are blown out of the body along with bullet5. When the unsupported skin at exit tends to tear and break into pieces.

Shored (Supported) Exit woundsWhen the exit wound is over supported skin, it is circular or nearly circular defects that is surrounded by a margin of abrasion similar to an entry wound.

When firm object such as belt , waist band of trousers, collar, brassiere or tie is pressed against the body at the site of exit wound. When body is leaning against a hard surface such as wall, back of chair, table floor , bed etc.

Medicolegal aspects of exit wound: From the exit wound we can know 1. Direction of firing 2. Number of bullets that are remaining in the body.

Billiard Ball Ricochet effect / Ricocheting of bulletA ricochet bullet is one which is deviated or deflected from its course by striking an intermediate object. This results in deformity, loss of velocity & loss of stability.

Balling or welding of shot: Balling of shotgun pellets results in conversion of shot into a compact mass that moves en mass up to several meters. This is usually caused by faulty manufacture or from the use of old ammunition. The wound produced by balling of shots is a circular or oval entrance wound.

S. NOSUICIDAL HOMICIDAL ACCIDENTAL Victim: Generally adult male Any Any Site Where hands can reach easily i.e. middle of forehead, side of head mouth, under the chin & heart.Distance: Contact or close fire. Any distance but usually distant fire. Usually close fire. Direction: Consistent with self fire. Any Direction Any Direction Number of shots: Usually one. Any Number Any Number Cadaveric:Spasm Sometimes Positive. No Cadaveric Spasm. No Cadaveric Spasm. Weapon Weapon is near this Person. AbsentScene of Crime: No disorder of furniture in the room etc..Signs of Struggle may be present.No disorder of articles. Circums- tantial Evidence. Farewell letter giving cause of suicide may be found. Selects a quiet room or a lonely place. Room may be bolted from inside. Foot prints on the floor and finger prints on the weapon are those of the deceased.No farewell letter, room not bolted. Foot prints and finger prints of more than one person may be present.No farewell letter

SITE AND RELATION TO SUICIDE / HOMICIDESUICIDE SITES:ForeheadTempleChestThrough neck Clothes not involved.

HOMICIDE SITES:Any site.Clothes involved

ACCIDENT:No relationship to the site.H/O accident.

Suicidal firearm case. (Key: 5 S)Site classical. Temple, heart, mouth, chin.Single shot.Scene of crime calm, locked inside, no disturbance.Suicidal note.Spasm cadaveric spasm. (Hallmark).

TESTS FOR DETECTION OF GUN POWDER ON THE HAND.

DERMAL NITRATE TEST (PARAFFIN TEST)(NOT USED NOW) LATEST TESTS ARE NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS, Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX)

Gun Shot residueWhen a gun is discharged , gunshot residues(GSR) escaping from the muzzle of the weapon may be deposited on skin or clothing.lead (PB)Barium (Ba) and antimony (Sb) are characteristic of GSR.

OBSERVATION & CLINICAL FINDINGSShapeSize L x B x DNP (KUO)SiteRelationshipAngles, Margins, BedForeign MaterialBleeding / or NotSurroundingsOPINION & INNERPRETATATION

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42RIFLES INJUIRES

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47SHOT GUNS INJURIES

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