Medico-legal Study of Shockwave Damage by High Velocity Missiles in Firearm Injuries

Background: Many variables determine the destructive capacity of a weapon; missile velocity is an important consideration. Wounding capability of a missile depends on the amount of kinetic energy dissipated in the tissues. A penetrating high velocity missile (usually bullets) transfers a destructive...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yasser S. Selman, Nabeel G. Hashim, Ahmed S. Al-Naaimi, Ahmed S. Saeed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: College of Medicine University of Baghdad 2012-01-01
Series:مجلة كلية الطب
Subjects:
Online Access:http://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/801
_version_ 1797369313501380608
author Yasser S. Selman
Nabeel G. Hashim
Ahmed S. Al-Naaimi
Ahmed S. Saeed
author_facet Yasser S. Selman
Nabeel G. Hashim
Ahmed S. Al-Naaimi
Ahmed S. Saeed
author_sort Yasser S. Selman
collection DOAJ
description Background: Many variables determine the destructive capacity of a weapon; missile velocity is an important consideration. Wounding capability of a missile depends on the amount of kinetic energy dissipated in the tissues. A penetrating high velocity missile (usually bullets) transfers a destructive energy called shock wave to the surrounding tissues. Objective: To detect and estimate tissues damage away from the main track of high velocity missiles in firearm rifled weapons injuries. Methods: This cross-sectional study is performed in medico-legal institute in Baghdad for (8) month’s duration from (1-1-2010) to (1-9-2010). Full proper autopsy including external and internal examination of the body for all cases was performed, and complete medico-legal history was obtained to determine the type of the weapon used so as to include only the cases of high velocity missile injures. Results: The study included (30) cases; (21) men and (9) women with their ages ranged between (15 –70) years. The total body injures in all cases were (69) in the main track and (43) away from the main track of the missiles. Head and neck region was affected more than other body regions by primary injury, while the chest region was the most affected by distant injuries due to shock wave. Conclusion: The shock wave damage had happened in all cases of high velocity missile firearm injures in this study. Most of them were in the chest; the lower limbs were the least frequently affected. This should be put in consideration of forensic pathologist.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T17:44:55Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6e04014207dc4eef9ae80d7020b75189
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0041-9419
2410-8057
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T17:44:55Z
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher College of Medicine University of Baghdad
record_format Article
series مجلة كلية الطب
spelling doaj.art-6e04014207dc4eef9ae80d7020b751892024-01-02T10:36:18ZengCollege of Medicine University of Baghdadمجلة كلية الطب0041-94192410-80572012-01-0153410.32007/jfacmedbagdad.v4401-405%Medico-legal Study of Shockwave Damage by High Velocity Missiles in Firearm InjuriesYasser S. Selman0Nabeel G. Hashim1Ahmed S. Al-Naaimi2Ahmed S. Saeed3Department of Pathology and forensic Medicine/ Al-Kindy college of MedicineDepartment of Pathology and Forensic Medicine/ Baghdad Faculty of Medicine.Department of Community Medicine/Baghdad Faculty of Medicine.Medico-legal Institute of Baghdad (previously).Background: Many variables determine the destructive capacity of a weapon; missile velocity is an important consideration. Wounding capability of a missile depends on the amount of kinetic energy dissipated in the tissues. A penetrating high velocity missile (usually bullets) transfers a destructive energy called shock wave to the surrounding tissues. Objective: To detect and estimate tissues damage away from the main track of high velocity missiles in firearm rifled weapons injuries. Methods: This cross-sectional study is performed in medico-legal institute in Baghdad for (8) month’s duration from (1-1-2010) to (1-9-2010). Full proper autopsy including external and internal examination of the body for all cases was performed, and complete medico-legal history was obtained to determine the type of the weapon used so as to include only the cases of high velocity missile injures. Results: The study included (30) cases; (21) men and (9) women with their ages ranged between (15 –70) years. The total body injures in all cases were (69) in the main track and (43) away from the main track of the missiles. Head and neck region was affected more than other body regions by primary injury, while the chest region was the most affected by distant injuries due to shock wave. Conclusion: The shock wave damage had happened in all cases of high velocity missile firearm injures in this study. Most of them were in the chest; the lower limbs were the least frequently affected. This should be put in consideration of forensic pathologist.http://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/801Firearm injuries, Rifled weapon, High velocity missile, Shock wave.
spellingShingle Yasser S. Selman
Nabeel G. Hashim
Ahmed S. Al-Naaimi
Ahmed S. Saeed
Medico-legal Study of Shockwave Damage by High Velocity Missiles in Firearm Injuries
مجلة كلية الطب
Firearm injuries, Rifled weapon, High velocity missile, Shock wave.
title Medico-legal Study of Shockwave Damage by High Velocity Missiles in Firearm Injuries
title_full Medico-legal Study of Shockwave Damage by High Velocity Missiles in Firearm Injuries
title_fullStr Medico-legal Study of Shockwave Damage by High Velocity Missiles in Firearm Injuries
title_full_unstemmed Medico-legal Study of Shockwave Damage by High Velocity Missiles in Firearm Injuries
title_short Medico-legal Study of Shockwave Damage by High Velocity Missiles in Firearm Injuries
title_sort medico legal study of shockwave damage by high velocity missiles in firearm injuries
topic Firearm injuries, Rifled weapon, High velocity missile, Shock wave.
url http://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/801
work_keys_str_mv AT yassersselman medicolegalstudyofshockwavedamagebyhighvelocitymissilesinfirearminjuries
AT nabeelghashim medicolegalstudyofshockwavedamagebyhighvelocitymissilesinfirearminjuries
AT ahmedsalnaaimi medicolegalstudyofshockwavedamagebyhighvelocitymissilesinfirearminjuries
AT ahmedssaeed medicolegalstudyofshockwavedamagebyhighvelocitymissilesinfirearminjuries