FIRE ARM INJURIES

DR MACHARIA
MBchB (uon),Mmed Path (uon),
Dip. Forensic Path (SA)

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OBJECTIVES
• Broad classification of firearms
• Mechanisims by which missiles cause injuries
• Factors that can be determined from firearm
injuries
– Range
– Exit and entrance wounds
– Number of shots
– Type of weapon used.
– Direction from which the missile was fired.

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Classification
1) Classification accordidng to velocity
• Low velocity missile (<370m/s)
• Medium velocity (370-760m/s)
• High velocity (>760m/s)

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2) In the context of wounds guns are
categorised into:
Rifled guns
• They have parallel spiral grooves on the
inner aspect of the barrel and a single
missile is fired at a time.
• They include
• Pistols, revolvers, AK47, submachine guns
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Shot guns ( Smoothbore firearms)
• The inner lining of the barrel is smooth
• Multiple pellets are usually discharged at
once.

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Mechanisms of injury
• Missiles cause injuries in three ways.
Mechanical damage
• This is by laceration and crushing of tissues
• This is the principle mechanism especially
with low velocity missiles since most of the
energy is transmitted into the tissues.

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Shock waves
• High velocity missiles generate shockwaves that
compress tissues ahead of the missile.
• This compression causes damage especially to
fluid filled organs like the bladder, heart, and the
bowel.

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Cavitation
• A high velocity missile causes tissues to fling
away from the center creating a temporary cavity
that lasts afew miliseconds.
• The cavity may be upto 40 times the size of the
bullet.
• This affects mainly the solid organs like the brain
and liver.

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 A cartridge is made of
• Cartridge case
• Primer- It ignites the propellant.
• propellant and
• the missile.

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 When the trigger is pulled, the following are
emitted.
• Projectile
• Burnt propellant
• Unburnt propellant
• Hot gasses
• Flames
• Grease and oil.
• Cartridge case
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• Factors that can be determined from firearm
injuries
– Range
– Entry and exit wounds
– Direction from which the missile was fired.
– Type of missile used.
– Number of shots that struck the body.

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Range
• Broadly categorised into three.
– Contact
– Near
– Distant

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Contact wounds over hard surface
• The gun is held tight against the skin.
• Characteristics of the entry wound
– Usually stellate in shape
– The edges are everted
– Edges are seared by heat and have soot
– Muzzle imprint
– May be larger than the exit wound.
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Close range ( near ) wounds
• Up to an arms-length
The entry wound will have the following
characteristics
• Smaller than the exit wound.
• Inverted edges.
• Usually round to oval in shape
• A collar of abrasion
• Soot around the wound
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• High levels of co in tissue around the
wound.
• Singeing of the hair due to heat so they
appear club shaped
• Tattooing These are small focal punctate
abrasions caused by burnt and unburnt
propellant particles.
• Not found on the palms and the soles
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Distant wounds
• Distances greater than 35 to 60 cm
• Usually small and round to oval.
• Inverted edges.
• A collar of abrasion
• No soot/blackenning
• No tattooing
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Exit wounds.
• Generally larger and irregular than the entry
wound.
• Usually do not have a collar of abrasion except in
shored exit wounds. ( where skin was in contact
with a hard contact like a belt)
• Exit wounds may be more than the entry wounds.
• Normal levels of co in the tissues around the
wound.

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Direction from which missile was fired.
• This is done by examining the following
• Shape of collar of abrasion
• Pattern of distribution of blackenning and
tattooing.
• Trajectory between the entry and exit
wounds.
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Shot guns.
• The contact wound over a hard surface resembles
that of a rifled gun.
• The close range entry wound differs with that of a
rifled gun since many pellets are fired.
• In close range the entry wound is round
• From around 30cm the entry wound has a rat-hole
appearance

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As the distance increases, satellite small holes
start appearing with a central hole.
• With further distance, the central hole
disappears leaving only the satellite holes.
• So for distant range wounds, there are many
small wounds on the skin .

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Rat-hole appearance

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A central hole with small multiple satellite wounds.

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Distant range. Multiple small wounds.

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Autopsy
• Should be preceded by a visit to the scene of
crime.
• Photography
• There should be a consent from relevant
authorities.
• Obtain proper history as to the circumstances of
the shooting.
• Pre autopsy X Ray if possible.
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• Examination of clothing for number of
holes presence of soot
• A thorough examination of the wounds and
their documentation.
• Avoid incising through the wound.
• Follow the wound track documenting the
injuries caused.
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Samples and exhibits retained.
• Pieces of clothing for possible gunshot residue and
blood
• Blood may be taken for alcohol level DNA analysis can
be done then compared with that found at the scene.
• The skin wound may be removed for ballistics.
• Bullets recovered. Should not use metal forceps to
remove bullets-rubber-tipped forceps
recommended.Wrap it with cotton wool then into a
container.

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 Calibre
• It is the distance between the lands, a land
being the metal between the grooves. The
land projects in to the barrel.

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EXPLOSIVES

• An explosion is a sudden release of previously

confined energy.
• Death and injury are due to the following.
• Primary blast injury.
• This is due to direct effect of blast wave that
radiates from the center.
• A secondary blast injury
• This is caused by objects e.g. glass falling stones
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• Injuries due to inhalation of toxic substances.
• Burns

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Why carry out an autopsy
• Identity of the victims
• Number of victims
• Cause of death

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THE END

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