Priority of multiple gunshot injuries of the skull

In accordance with Puppe's rule, the analysis of skull fractures may provide evidence on the sequence in which multiple blunt injuries of the skull occurred. In cases of multiple gunshot wounds of the skull determination of the sequence in which the gunshot wounds took place is much more difficult. In some cases, however, analysis of the skull fractures here can also allow the order in which gunshot wounds occurred to be established.     

The morphology of the gunshot entry wound

The main signs of inlet gunshot wound inflicted from non-close shot distance are the following: central defect of the tissue, presence of abrasion and rub zones along the margins. During experimental study high variability of these signs was stated and new morphologic characteristics of inlet gunshot wound were detected.     

The hydrodynamic effect of gunshots in cranial explosive shots

Case report on five fatal gunshot injuries in which discharge of the cranial contents had occurred owing to a skull blast. Despite an appreciable explosive action with destruction of the bony cranium, the brains were not completely destroyed. In analogy to the "Kr?nlein shot", comparative reflections were made concerning wound ballistics. The case reports show that injury patterns resembling "Kr?nlein shot" may arise in cranial blast shots in rare cases despite destroyed projectile parts and even in a mouth shot.     

Forensic-medical significance of the characteristics of gunshot perforating fractures of the skull bones

The study was made of gunshot perforating fractures of calvarial bones in cases of lethal perforating head wounds in long distance shots from a 9-mm Makarov gun. Morphological characteristics of inlet and outlet perforating fractures and bone fragments were found to differ. Gunshot fractures in calvarial bones inflicted by bullets from a 9-mm Makarov gun were studied in experiments with different kinetic energy. In low kinetic energy, bullets make oval holes on the outer table of the skull and round holes on the inner table with radial prominences on the walls of bullet channels, large bone fragments; in moderate kinetic energy--make round holes in the outer table and oval on the inner table with skew prominences on the walls of the outlet part of the channels, large and middle-sized flat bone fragments; in high kinetic energy injuries on both tables were round, prominences were cross, bone fragments were flat, small and middle-sized.     

Evaluation of the severity of harm to health by gastrointestinal injury caused by blunt trauma

A total of 226 forensic medical conclusions in traumas of the gastrointestinal tract with blunt objects, 111 of these with lethal outcomes, are analyzed. The types of injuries, clinical course, medical care, complications, flaws in medical care and their consequences, and pathomorphology of the injury were analyzed. Criteria of harm inflicted to health are determined and a table of qualifying signs is suggested for cases with blunt injuries of the gastrointestinal system, with consideration for the type of injury.     

Multiple gunshot wounds of the head: an anthropological view

A decomposed body was judged at the scene to have two gunshot wounds of the thorax and three of the head. Confirmed at autopsy, the condition of the remains precluded conclusions about the precise nature of the defects. Preparation and reconstruction of the skull disclosed seven large cranial defects and a series of fractures. This preparation allowed the application of well-known principles of gunshot wound analysis. Although the analysis of specific gunshot wound defects is well covered in the literature, there are few examples of the application of gunshot wound principles to complex wound cases. Three entrances and three exits were identified. A seventh defect resulted from bullet passage. Finally, the wounds were sequenced.     

对纤维蛋白诊断生前伤的评价——45例枪弹创组织的MSB染色和扫描电镜对比观察

生活反应是诊断生前伤的主要根据.近二十年来,法医病理学在研究生前伤和死后伤的诊断中,采用了多种新兴技术,如扫描电镜技术、酶组织化学技术、酶标技术、电泳技术等,促使生前伤的诊断水平有明显提高.伤后存活1小时死亡者,大部分皆可获得明确诊断;立即死亡或在濒死期形成的损伤,由于生活反应甚微,或受腐败等     

The death of Adolf Hitler--forensic aspects

The death of Adolf Hitler is one of the unsolved mysteries of the twentieth century. Numerous historians and journalists have attempted to piece together the details, but despite the interest in the forensic literature regarding the identification of the body, there has not been much scientific debate about the alleged cause of death--cyanide poisoning, gunshot injury, or both. The available literature concerning Hitler's cause of death is incomplete because the toxicological analysis has not been performed and because the skull bone fragment with a gunshot wound possibly from Hitler's corpse has not been properly examined. This has given basis for various theories, which are reviewed. We believe that mtDNA analysis of the skull fragments and of Hitler's jaw, now filed in Moscow, and samples from maternal relatives of Hitler are crucial linking the skull fragment with the gunshot wound to Hitler.     

微痕量检验在致伤物推断与认定中的价值

致伤物可为侦查和审判提供准确、可靠的线索和证据。在法医学实践中，创内异物的分析与检测一直是致伤物推断和认定的重要途径之一。近年来，随着一系列先进检测技术的应用，使得致伤物在创周遗留的微痕量物证的发现和检验获得了重要进展。微痕量检验也由对火器伤射击残留物的分析扩展到钝器伤和锐器伤检验．并取得了初步的进展。     

A case of internal beveling with an exit gunshot wound to the skull

Exit gunshot wounds of the skull generally have external beveling while entrance wounds show internal beveling. With rare exceptions, entrance gunshot wounds show external beveling, usually of two types: the asymmetric ‘keyhole’ type and the symmetric ‘non-keyhole’ type. In exit gunshot wounds of the skull, only the keyhole type has been reported. This report shows that symmetric internal beveling from an exit gunshot wound to the skull may confuse medical personnel.     

Modern aspects of forensic medical diagnostics of the craniocerebral injury

The authors report the results of the investigations of craniocerebral injuries (CCI) including crystallographic studies of brain liquor obtained after the injury and non-traumatic pathological processes. The additional forensic medical criteria for the severity of craniocerebral injuries have been developed and the objective signs of CCI determined to be used for diagnostic purposes in the cases with concomitant diseases and also in the subjects of advanced and declining age. The diagnostic methods for the elucidation of the nature of chronic subdural hematomas and the estimation of the time of their formation have been improved.     

External beveling of cranial gunshot entrance wounds

Entrance gunshot wounds of the skull generally have internal beveling. External beveling has been previously described in association with internal beveling (keyhole defect) and with wounds from handgun projectiles. An accidental shooting is described in which a 22-year-old male sustained a perforating gunshot wound of the head at distant range from a 5.56-mm (.223-caliber) fully jacketed rifle round. Although the entrance wound had symmetrical external beveling, misinterpretation of this particular entrance wound as an exit wound would have been difficult.     

Forensic medical estimation of gunshot fractures of the flat bones

The principal characteristics of the investigations into the mechanisms of gunshot injuries are considered. The general and peculiar features of gunshot fractures and the pathological processes underlying them are discussed. The theory of bullet impact effect put forward by the Russian surgeons in the late XIXth century is verified. The explanation is proposed for the physical nature of direct and side impacts and the phenomenon of a temporary oscillating cavity from the standpoint of the theory of bullet impact effect. The new forensic medical criteria for the gunshot origin of an injury have been developed that allow the gunshot distance and the geometric characteristics of the bullet to be determined. A methodological basis for the determination of the long-range gunshot distance has been created. The results of the present study may be of interest for criminal lawyers and military specialists.     

Comparison of gunshot wounds and field-tipped arrow wounds using morphological criteria and chemical spot tests

Arrow wounds represent an unusual class of wounds rarely seen by most death investigators. Although the edged, broadhead-tipped arrow produces a wound usually characteristic of archery/crossbow weapons, the plain, field-tipped arrow wound can be confused with gunshot injuries in those cases in which powder residue or firearm projectiles or fragments or both are not recovered. We present a case of a deer carcass with a wound of uncertain firearm or archery origin which initiated a comparison of firearm wounds and archery wounds on fresh road-killed deer. We found the following features to be valuable in the differentiation of gunshot wounds and field-tipped archery wounds: First, the majority of the gunshot wounds (but none of the arrow wounds) had identifiable, macroscopic, wipe-off material and chemically identifiable wipe-off residue by spot test. Second, the archery wound defects had very inconspicuous abrasion rings as compared to the often prominent abrasion rings of gunshot wounds. Third, the actual central defect in the archery wounds was more likely to be oblong or slit-like compared to the gunshot wound defects, which were more likely to be round.     

The use of emission spectrum analysis in the forensic medical expertise of gunshot wounds (experimental research)

Presents the methodology of experimental shots from various guns (n = 11) by common cartridges and of emission spectral analysis (ESA) which was used to study the regularities in deposition of "gunshot metals" at the site of gunshot injuries and to detect the characteristic differences in shooting with and without obstacles. Effects of some factors on deposition of metal components of gunshot products at the site of gunshot injuries are studied: type of gun, shell (with/without coating or semicoated), presence of obstacles, distance, and order of the shot. Results of studies are presented for some guns, which may be useful in forensic medical expert evaluations by means of ESA.     

Morphological features of gunshot injuries of the cranial bones

Morphological characteristics of gunshot injuries of the cranial dome bones depend on bullet speed and are determined by various mechanisms of the harmful action. A contusion action of the bullet is characterized by disruption of the bone tissue with formation of linear or incomplete fracture. A wedged impact is accompanied with disruption of bone structures with formation of depressed or comminuted fractures due to radial dislocation of the fragments. A perforative impact produces a hole defect the shape of which depends on bullet speed. A bursting impact of the bullet causes disruption of the bone tissue outside the bullet defect as a result of an additional radial effect of high pressure of the air wave reaching in the wounds inflicted by high-speed bullets the effect of the hydrodynamic shock in the spongy layer of the flat bone. Resultant morphological manifestations are aggravated by damage caused by hydrodynamic shock coming from the cranial cavity.     

Thermally induced entrance wound-like defect of the skull

A case of death due to car fire is described where the carbonised skull of the cremated corpse showed an ovoid defect of the cranial bone. The question arose whether this formed fracture was caused by a gunshot. But the reconstruction of the cranial remains with detached parts of the tabula externa provided evidence that the suspicious defect was to be classified as an uncommon heat-induced post-mortem artefact.     

Survival time, capacity of action and radiological diagnosis after gunshot wounds of the cranium (author's transl)]

Three cases of suicidal temporal gunshots. Different circumstances in the clinical course and in the ability of action.--In one case there was a bullet tract in the lower temporal region with considerable destruction of the base of the skull, followed by immediate inability of action and early death. Another case with a transtemporal gunshot without radiological signs of a laceration of the base of skull showed severe disturbance of cerebral functions for some days and remaining blindness. In the third case there was a pistol shot in the temporal region with retained missile, full ability of acting and undisturbed consciousness. Causative for the differences in the effect of the gunshots are differences of weapons and amunition and the anatomical position of the wound track in the temporal region. Discussion about the role of concussion of the brain by different rate of transgression of energy from the missile to the skull. Reference to the importance of X-ray analysis and to a radiographic documentation of the findings in such cases.     

Unusual attempted suicide by shooting through heart

Gunshot wounds in the heart are frequent suicidal injuries, especially in men. Most of them are lethal, but some cases of survival due to immediate and proper surgical treatment are reported. However, survival without specific treatment is extremely rare.In our case, a 44-year man attempted suicide by home-made shooting device. A special 12 cm long and 2.5 mm wide needle-like missile entered his body at the left anterior part of his chest, passed through the heart and lower lobe of right lung and exited at the right side of his back. The patient was able to move normally and he also looked for medical help immediately after attempting suicide. We found large atypical-shaped entrance wound on the anterior part of the chest, which was surgically treated, and tiny pointed exit wound under the right scapula. The patient was stable from cardio-circulatory and respiratory aspects from the time of admission to discharge from the hospital. We found only minimal pericardial bleeding (up to 10 mm thick) and there was no need for surgical intervention. In the next 2 weeks the haematoma absorbed spontaneously. The gunshot injury healed without any complication. Paranoid psychosis was diagnosed by psychiatrist and this probably had been the cause of attempting suicide.We think that the favorable outcome of the proved heart gunshot injury in our patient was due to the needle-shaped low-energy missile, which caused only tiny gunshot (stab) hole in the heart. Such a heart injury caused only minimal bleeding into the pericardial sac without heart tamponade.