Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the severity of soft tissue and bone injuries occurring in gunshot traumas and to compare the effects of handgun and rifle bullets on these injuries.
Methods: Sixteen tissue simulants which were made of transparent gel candle blocks and calibrated to muscle tissue were targetted by pistol (9 mm parabellum) or military rifle (G-3) bullets. Half of the blocks contained fresh calf humerus bone. The effects of the bullets in tissue simulants were monitored by using high velocity cameras capable of taking 1,000 views per second.
Results: On a millisecond time scale, handgun bullets produced a small-sized temporary cavity while rifle bullets produced a wide temporary cavity in isolated soft tissue simulants. It was shown that the differences in the size of temporary cavities resulting from the blast effect correlated highly with the severity of injury occurring in soft tissues. In samples at which calf humerus bone was targetted, we observed that fragmentation and cavity effects correlated highly with the velocity of the bullet and determined the severity of injury.
Conclusion: Experimental demonstration of differences in the size and severity of injuries caused by handgun or rifle bullets may have significant implications in the planning of treatment.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Technical note: A silenced hybrid 3D-printed self-loading pistol of the YEET family.
Forensic Sci Int
January 2025
Ballistics laboratory, National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology, Vilvoordsesteenweg 98, Brussels 1120, Belgium. Electronic address:
Since the release of the first 3D-printed firearm, "The Liberator," the occurrence of 3D-printed firearms in criminal activities has increased, highlighting the need for forensic research on these weapons. This study presents a technical examination of a 3D-printed firearm received by the National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC), focusing on its design, ballistic performance, and its potential for microscopic comparative analysis. The firearm, resembling a 3D-printed pistol Yeet22, is primarily constructed from polymer parts, with the exception of the firing pin, barrel, and various springs and screws.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreliminary study of gunshot residues in entry holes at different angles: Feasibility of using LIBS to support trajectory estimation.
Forensic Sci Int
December 2024
Ballistics Section of the Spanish Scientific Police Headquarters (National Police), Julián González Segador s/n, Madrid, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Policiales (IUICP), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Firearm-related scenarios can be highly complex, involving multiple shooters, firearms, types of ammunition, victims, and various impact zones. Obtaining the maximum amount of information to connect each piece of the puzzle is crucial for resolving these cases. Currently, new tools are being developed in the forensic field that facilitate both fieldwork and laboratory analysis, enabling the estimation of trajectories, identification of shooters, and more.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA study on the measurement of GSR with bloodstains by ICP-MS.
Forensic Sci Res
December 2024
Department of Forensic Chemistry, Criminal Investigation Police University of China, Shenyang, China.
Unlabelled: In forensic laboratories, analytical investigations of gunshot residues (GSRs) are usually conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in combination with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. If GSRs are covered with bloodstains, SEM cannot detect them. In this study, an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method is proposed to solve this problem.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssault rifle injuries in civilians: ballistics of wound patterns, assessment and initial management.
Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg
December 2024
SECRAB Security Research, 147 63, Uttran, Sweden.
Purpose: Wounds from assault rifles and their commercial offspring have been encountered with increasing frequency in civilian practice. Our aim is to summarize wound ballistics related to the main injury patterns that can also affect management strategies.
Methods: An online search of the PubMed was conducted for research and review articles published after 2000 in English, using the MeSH terms "gunshot wounds", "mass casualty incidents", "war-related injuries", "soft tissue injuries", "vascular system injuries", "colon injuries", "wound infection", "antibiotic prophylaxis", "debridement", "hemorrhage", "penetrating head injuries", "pneumothorax" and additional free-text terms.
Article Synopsis
- Few studies have looked into how accurate and consistent firearms examiners are when comparing bullets, especially when they're damaged or from different types of ammunition.
- This research involved 49 forensic firearms examiners making over 3,000 bullet comparisons, focusing on two main scenarios: comparing bullets of unknown origins and bullets from different known firearms.
- Key findings showed that bullet quality significantly affects decision rates, with more inconclusive results from certain bullet types and discrepancies in decision rates among different firearm models and examiner participants.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!