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.     

Concordance Rate for the Identification of Distant Entrance Gunshot Wounds of the Back by Experienced Forensic Pathologists Examining Only Images of Autopsies

The images of 66 gunshot entrance wounds with a defect on the back, a bullet in the body, hemorrhage along the wound track, and logical certainty that it was an entrance wound were collected from the files of a moderately busy medical examiner's office. Participants numbering 22 board‐certified forensic pathologists viewed a single digital archival image of each of the 66 entrance wounds randomly mixed with 74 presumptive exit wounds to determine whether they were entrance or exit wounds. The concordance rate for correctly identifying the 66 logically known entrance wounds was 82.8% with a range from 58% to 97%. This pilot study was conducted to provide an evidence‐based approach to the interpretation of the direction of gunshot wounds by reviewing pathologists with access only to archival photographs, and it is not a measure of the accuracy to distinguish entrance from exit wounds when given all of the circumstances.     

带消音器枪弹创的实验病理研究

使用国产7．62mm口径微声轻型冲锋枪，以不同距离射击实验动物，制成带消音器枪弹创，并使用国产7．62mm口径轻型冲锋枪作对照进行对比观察。结果表明：在接触和近距离射击时，带消音器枪弹刻与典型枪弹剑比较有明显不同；根据消音器的结构和原理，结合实验结果，建立了带消音器枪弹创的形态学特征及其诊断依据。为法医学检验鉴定提供了实验性资料。     

Puncture wounds caused by glass mistaken for with stab wounds with a knife

Three cases are presented where fatal puncture wounds caused by broken glass were very similar to stab wounds inflicted by a knife with a single-edged blade. Thus, all three cases caused a murder investigation to be initiated. It could only be determined that these wounds had been caused by glass after a detailed forensic autopsy. In two of the three cases, the only evidence for this was the identification of glass fragments in the wounds. The importance of X-ray examinations is underlined because modern glass in common use is radiopaque. Glass fragments lodged in the wounds can reduce the loss of blood and thus, prolong the capacity to act despite severe injuries.     

Metallization at the Exit Wound—An Unusual Finding in Fatal Electrocution

Electrocution injuries represent a severe occupational hazard. Those at work usually ignore the importance of safety training and safe practices while the electric source is nearby the work area. Death due to electrocution can occur with or without any electric mark on the body. Limbs are the commoner site for electric entry and exit wounds. Various uncommon sites for electric exit wounds have also been reported in the literature. We report a rare case of fatal electrocution, where a 28-year-old male carpenter sustained electric injuries at the worksite. Multiple exit wounds were present over the back of the chest, an uncommon site for the exit wounds, and notably, both entry and exit wounds showed evidence of metallization. The present case emphasizes on the significance of death scene investigations in the reconstruction of events and need for complete autopsy supplemented with chemical and histopathological examination of the electric wounds.     

Study of elastic fiber changes of human skin in distinction between antemortem and postmortem wounds

Elastic fiber changes of volunteers' antemortem and postmortem skin wounds of various time were observed in order to find possible differences between them. These sections of the wounds were stained by Hart's modification of Weigert's elastic tissue stain.. However, this study showed that there were no differences in the nature and distribution of the elastic fibers in the dermis of volunteers' antemortem and postmortem human skin wounds. Therefore, this suggests that the appearances of the elastic fibers in the dermis should not be as a means of differentiating antemortem skin wounds from postmortem wounds in forensic identification.     

Unusual shotgun injury. Gas blowout of anterior head region

During a 6-month period, we encountered two examples of tight contact wounds of the temple region which were associated with ovoid, fairly regular, perforating wounds of the skull and overlying skin. These wounds were located between the eyes with the upper border near the glabella and the lower border near the level of the lower eyelids. There was no evidence that these wounds were entry wounds and in both cases the projectiles were still within the cranial cavity. Therefore, they were interpreted as gas blowout wounds. No similar cases have been found in the literature. Law enforcement personnel and pathologists should be aware of this rather rare blowout type of shotgun injury since it may be subject to various misinterpretations, including that of an entry wound.     

枪弹创后置物射出口形态学的实验研究

为建立后置物射出口与射入口的检验鉴定方法，使用国产五四式7．62mm口径手枪及五六式7．62mm口径半自动步枪，以5米的距离射击约克夏种白猪18只，同时以木板、水泥板、玻璃及衣服等作为射出口衬垫物，制成后置物射出口56例，并与对照组12例射出口进行对比观察。结果表明，射出口与后置物距离在3cm以内均可出现创缘伸展轮及皮下出血，且与后置物质地及距离成正比。根据其形态分为典型及非典型两类，并建立了此类射出口的检验方法及其与射入口鉴别的依据，有助于法医在实际检验中对射击方向的判断。     

Evaluation of atypical stab and incision wounds in a case of combined suicidal injuries

A fatal case of stabbing and cutting is reported which involved a 37-year-old male who suffered from depressive disorder and had already attempted suicide in the past. The postmortem examination revealed 12 lacerations of the scalp, 5 deep incised wounds on the flexor surface of the right forearm, 3 stab wounds of the back of the head, 12 stab wounds of the chest (with cutting of ribs but no injury of heart and lungs), 35 stab wounds of the abdomen and deep incised wounds of both sides of the neck with hesitation marks and incision of the left internal jugular vein. The significance of criteria to properly establish the manner of death like localization, axis and pattern of the wounds, hesitation marks, defense wounds, pulling aside the clothing to expose the target area, sustained capacity of physical activity and potential lethal effects of the single injuries as well as conclusions from the scene of death are discussed.     

Fatal firearm wounds: a clinicopathologic study

Firearm-related injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. This retrospective autopsy study included all firearm-related fatalities seen at a central mortuary in Durban. These cases had initially been assessed by a clinician before death, from July 1998 to June 1999.A total of 322 cases of fatal gunshot wounds were reviewed. Medical records and postmortem findings were compared by data capture onto a spreadsheet. Twenty-eight cases were excluded because of surgical alteration of the wounds, making autopsy evaluation impossible. In 50.7% of cases, the number of wounds was correctly identified and in 55.1% the position was correctly identified. In only 36.1% of cases were the entry and exit wounds correctly identified. The total number of missed wounds was 504 (48.3% of cases). The majority of missed wounds were on the upper limbs (25%), with the anterior trunk (21.8%) and lower limbs (18.5%) making up the remainder. This study demonstrates that physicians in South Africa do not adequately document and interpret gunshot wounds, which may influence the treatment of the patient and have medicolegal consequences. Emphasis should be placed on undergraduate and postgraduate teaching for physicians to correctly identify, interpret, and document firearm wounds.     

Characteristics of Bone Injuries Resulting from Knife Wounds Incised with Different Forces

The aim of this research was to experimentally determine the characteristics of incised bone wounds, which are commonly found in defense injuries. A specially constructed pivoting arm device was used to inflict wounds with controlled forces and direction. Five knives were selected to inflict the wounds on porcine forelimbs. Eight incised wounds were made per knife per force. A larger knife and a greater force caused longer and wider bone wounds. Comparisons of individual knives at the two forces produced varying results in the bone wounds. A correlation was seen between the force and the length (r = 0.69), width (r = 0.63), and depth (r = 0.57) of bone wounds. Serrated‐edge and nonserrated knives can be distinguished from the appearance of the wound. The outcomes may be applicable in forensic investigations to ascertain the forces associated with incised wounds and identify the specific knife used.     

纤维联接蛋白的析出与大鼠皮肤早期损伤的时间关系

采用免疫组化(PAP)方法,检测大鼠皮肤损伤区的FN,发现在生前创伤后15min,创壁FN即呈明确阳性;随着伤后经历时间的延长,创壁FN逐渐增多,并滑创壁呈条带状沉积;而在死后5min的创伤,创壁FN则呈阴性。本文为区别生前与死后皮肤创伤提出了一种新的方法。     

Expression of adhesion molecules in skin wounds: diagnostic value in legal medicine

The adhesion molecules identified in recent years can help improve the diagnosis of the wound age, especially of injuries with a short survival time. This is also indicative of the vitality of the wounds. The material investigated in the study originated from 465 skin wounds. The samples were taken from human autopsy material, during the surgical treatment of wounds (excision) of patients and from experimental incised wounds of mice. To judge the age of skin wounds the endothelial adhesion molecules were detected in paraffin sections after autoclaving and using the ABC technique. Human skin wounds: strong positive staining was observed of ICAM-1 1.5 h at the earliest and 3.5 days at the latest, for the P-selectin 3 min at the earliest and 7 h at the latest, for the E-selectin 1 h at the earliest and 17 days at the latest and for VCAM-1 3 h at the earliest and 3.5 days at the latest after the time of injury. The L-selectin was expressed constitutively. Mice skin wounds: strong positive immunohistochemical reactions were found as a rule earlier than in human skin wounds. The detection of an increased expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and P- and E-selectins can improve the wound age assessment in injuries with short survival times.     

扫描电子显微镜下生前和死后枪弹创的对比观察

本文用扫描电镜,对11例生前枪弹创和12例死后不同时间形成的枪弹创作对比观察。结果发现,生前枪弹创有大量红细胞和血小板凝块,纤维蛋白网形成,死后10min内的枪弹创亦有少许散在红细胞和纤维蛋白形成,很少见纤维蛋白网。死后25min的标本仍可见稀疏的红细胞,但无纤维蛋白形成。作者认为在扫描电镜下诊断生前枪弹创,需全面观察,综合分析。     

Characteristics of fibrin formation in stab wounds of the skin, determined by scanning electron microscopy

In an investigation on fibrin formation in skin cut wounds on guinea pigs using scanning electron microscopy, it was established that immediately after the infliction of cuts on live animals, a fine, netlike fiber structure of fibrin forms that gradually covers the entire wounded surface. In the period early after the cuts blood-forming elements attach to the fibrin net through numerous fine fibrin fibers, which incorporate a great number of thrombocytes. Postmortem investigations of these wounds showed that the fibrin net formed preserves its structure. It was also established that a fibrin net forms over skin wounds that were inflicted at different periods after death. In the wounds in the early periods after death, the fibrin net formed was very similar to the one established on wounds inflicted on living animals. Our investigation describes some peculiar characteristics of the fibrin net formed in living animals; there is a fine fiberlike net and the quantity is definitely larger. These characteristics permit the establishment of whether the wounds occurred before death and how much time has lapsed since then.     

利用颅骨枪弹创骨折类型推断射击方向和顺序的实验

建立利用颅骨枪弹创骨折类型推断射击方向和顺序的方法。使用国产五四式7．62mm口径手枪及五六式7．62mm口径半自动步枪,以3m的距离2次射击16具尸体的头颞部及枕部,造成颅脑贯通创,制成颅骨枪弹射入、出口各32例,并根据定位标记进行观察。结果显示：颅骨枪弹创骨折形态可分为带有斜面的孔状骨折,锁孔状骨折,放射状骨折和环状隆起骨折4种类型,其出现多见于低速枪射击,并与射击方向和顺序有直接关系。根据颅骨枪弹创骨折类型可推断射击方向和顺序。     

大鼠皮肤损伤纤维蛋白形成能力荧光法定量研究

本文报告采用荧光分光光度法检测损伤皮肤纤维蛋白形成能力,以探讨生前伤与死后伤的区别及不同存活时间的生前损伤之间的关系。实验结果证明,生前1min至3h的损伤皮肤纤维蛋白形成能力逐渐升高,生前30min损伤与死后伤的形成能力相比有显著差异,形成能力的检出率与死后放置时间长短和温度有关,而与该部位有无尸斑无关。     

Fatal arrow wounds

Two instances of fatal arrow wounds are described, one by a field-tip (target arrowhead), the other by a broadhead (large-game hunting arrowhead). The essential characteristics of the two types of wounds are discussed. In particular, the field-tip can closely simulate a bullet wound by causing a circular entrance hole with abraded margins, whereas the broadhead can create unusual radiating incised wounds.     

Complement component C3a or C3a desArg as a new marker for estimation of local vital reactions in incised skin wounds.

The anaphylatoxin C3a or its desArg form (C3a/desArg) generated during complement activation could be detected in the vicinity of incised skin wounds of guinea pigs using immunoblotting methods. The C3a/desArg peptides were detectable immediately after injury in local sites up to 3 mm from the wound edge. In subsequent determinations of up to at least 3-day-old antemortem wounds, the maximum concentration of these peptides was largely localized up to 6 mm from the wound edge at 2 h after injury. In postmortem wounds, however, these peptides were undetectable. When they were released in antemortem wounded tissues they could be detected up to 1 day at 22 degrees C after death. These results suggest that the detection of C3a/desArg in wounds using immunoblotting methods can be useful for distinguishing ante- from postmortem wounds.