Firearm Injuries

D. Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Ghonem

Estimation of distance of firing:

Type of weapons
Type of powder
Shots or bullets
Estimation of distance of firing:
• In short distance firing (near firing):
Depends on presence powder mark, associates
of projectile
• Gases (15 cm): tearing at inlet.
• Flame (distance half the length of barrel): burn
• Smoke (1-1 ½ the length of barrel): blackening
• Unburnt particle (2-3 length of barrel): tattoing
Estimation of distance of firing:
• Non-rifled weapons:
• Inner wad:
* penetrate body up to 3 meters
* hit the body up to 10 meters causing
abrasions and bruises
Estimation of distance of firing:
• Non-rifled weapons:
• Outer wad:
* penetrate body up to 1 meters
* hit the body up to 3 meters causing slight
abrasions
 Estimation of distance of firing:
In long In case of shots
distance
firing
(far firing)
Estimation of distance of firing:
• Up to 2m: one central hole.
• At 2 m and more: central hole with few
surrounding separate shots hole.
• At 3 m: central hole gets smaller.
• At 4 m: complete dispersion (diameter: 16
cm).
• At 10 m: space between shots increases,
diameter of dispersion 60 cm.
Chocking of non rifled weapons
In chocked weapons: complete dispersion
occurs at 6 m.
In non chocked weapons: complete dispersion
occurs at 4 m.
Estimation of distance of firing:
In case of rifled weapons:
In case of bullet

Amount of penetration if beyond the range of

associates of projectile
 Point blank firing (0-15)
 The inlet is cross shaped
 Everted
 Burnt (flam).
 Blackening (smoke)
 Tattooing (unburned particles).
 In contact firing
 Burning take the shape of the muzzle,

 Minimal blackening and tattooing.

Why
Direction of firing and position of
assailant:

Join the inlet and exit with an imaginary line,

when this line meets the ground indicate
approximately the position of the assailant
• Deviated bullet
• Retained missile
Identification of the weapon used
 Finger prints
 Smell of burnt powder
 Type and bore compared with projectile
extracted form the victim
 Swab from barrel to determine type of
powder and time since firing
 Experimental examination of the
suspected weapon by comparison
microscope to examine rifling marks
 Empty cartridge at the scene of the crime
Suicide , homicide or accidental
1. Circumstantial evidence

2. Scene of the crime

3. Examination of the victim

 Sex - Victims clothes - Cadaveric spasm
 Blackening of the victim's fingers
 Signs of resistance
 Examination of the wound -4
 Site of the wound: reach of hand-against vital organ
 Number of wounds
 Direction of firing
 Distance of firing
5 -Examination of the weapon
 Presence of the weapon in the scene of crime
 Type of weapon Short – long
 Finger print – blood stain
 Defect in the weapon if accidental firing
6- Examination of the suspected assailant
 Signs of struggle, blood grouping, finger print
Fabricated firearm wound:
• Within reach of the hand
• He may ignite some powder over his skin or
burn the skin and push a missile into the lesion.
• Diagnosis:
• Circumstantial evidence.
• False story given by the fabricator
• Careful examination of the wound and clothes,
• No powder marks present at the wound.
Estimation of date of firing:
• Up to 2 weeks after firing: smelling burnt
powder at the muzzle
• Analyses the residue of combustion production
in the barrel.
• Rust at the barrel
Role of physician in firearm wounds:
DO
• Make good notes of the original appearances
before any intervention (Draw and photograph
of each injury: distant and close-up).
• Preserve evidence carefully for the police.
• Swab the skin around the wounds for powder
residues.
Role of physician in firearm wounds:
• Look at radiographs before beginning the
surgery to identify types of the projectile and
their location.
• Look under the breasts, scrotum, axillae, groin
and perineum for hidden inlet, exit or reentry
wound.
• Differentiate between firearm injuries and
puncture wound by the presence of different
characters of firearm injuries
Role of physician in firearm wounds:
DO NOT
• Push probes through loose tissue because this
can result in artifactual tracks.
• Ever handle projectiles with metal instruments
to avoid distortion of rifling marks
• Forget to search for components not visible on
a radiograph such as fiber wadding.