Firearm Injuries

Question 1

MLI of bullets

Answer 1

1. Diagnosis of firearm injuries
2. Diagnosis of the type of weapon
3. Estimation of the distance of firing
4. Physician should extract the bullet from the body very carefully without inducing its damage as it is a very important evidence

Question 2

MLI of shots

Answer 2

1. Diagnosis of firearm injuries
2. Diagnosis of the type of weapon
3. Estimation of the distance of firing (degree of dispersion)

Question 3

MLI of wads

Answer 3

1. Diagnosis of firearm injuries
2. Diagnosis of the type of weapon
3. Estimation of the distance of firing
4. Estimation of the bore of the weapon
5. Differntiate between inlet and exit as they produce either bruises or abrasions near the inlet or may penetrate the skin causing a second lacerated wound. These effects are present upto 5 meters.

Question 4

MLI of gun powders

Answer 4

1. Diagnosis of firearm injuries
2. Diagnosis of the type of weapon
3. Estimation of the distance of firing
4. Differntiate between inlet and exit being around inlet only
5. Determination of the direction of firing, in oblique vs perpendicular firing

Question 5

List characters of firearm injuries

Answer 5

1. Area of loss of substance (high velocity, spinning movement and heat production)
2. Presence of 2 wounds (inlet and exit)
3. Presence of powder marks
4. Beveling of flat bone

Question 6

When?
A. Is exit absent
B. Presence of multiple exits with sigle inlet

Answer 6

A. Retained bullet or passes through a natural opening
B. Dumdum bullet, bullet may shatter bone and fragments go out seperately, near-firing of non-rifled weapons

Question 7

When?
A. Is inlet larger than usual
B. Inlet appears everted
C. Inlet appears irregular

Answer 7

A.
1. Very near firing over bony area
2. Common inlet of shot gun injuries
3. Ricochet bullet
B.
1. Very near firing over bony prominence
2. After putrefaction
3. Inlet in a fatty area
4. Dumdum bullet
C.
1. Very near firing over bony area
2. Inlet in corrugated skin in axilla or scrotum

Question 8

Mention determinants for estimation of the distance of firing

Answer 8

1. Appearnce of inlet
2. Presence of powder marks at the inlet wound
3. Presence of the missile in the wound (external or internal wads, shots from degree of disperion or bullets from its power of penetration