Atypical Trajectory of a Thoracoabdominal Gunshot Injury without Penetration

Abstract

Atypical trajectories of gunshot injuries are a major problem in forensic pathology. Thoracoabdominal gunshot injuries represent some of the most challenging injuries. A 25 years-old man applied to emergency department in consequence of multiple gunshot wounds. Thoracoabdominal helical computed tomography (CT) no injury at the intrabdominal and intrathoracic tissues. There was only a subcutenous tissue laceration of 50 cm in length, through from thoracic to abdominal walls. The patient medically managed and no surgical intervention was performed due to thoracoabdominal injury. In conclusion a trajectory of gunshot may not always be straight as is in our case. Helical CT is a useful tool in determining the real trajectory and therefore reduces the ratio of unnecessary surgical interventions.

Non-Operative Management of Thoracoabdominal Gunshot Injury: Thirteen Unusual Cases

“…However, it is known that the ballistic impact of some projectiles causes damage to the surrounding tissue, forming a temporary cavity approximately 12 times greater than permanent cavity. Therefore, besides investigating the trajectory of the bullet, hollow viscus injury should also be specifically investigated [24,25]. In this study, there were four patients with tangential injury.…”

Determining Trajectory to Predict Injury: The Use of X-Ray During Resuscitation in Gunshot Wounds

“…2 Furthermore, particularly in patients with multiple gunshot wounds, identifying the trajectory of the various bullet paths can be difficult. 3 The challenge of determining trajectory is further complicated by the fact that bullets do not always travel in a straight path. Several factors can impact a bullet trajectory such as the size, shape, and initial speed of the bullet, as well as the distance of the shooting.…”