Ballistic research techniques: visualizing gunshot wounding patterns

Abstract

There are difficulties associated with mapping gunshot wound (GSW) patterns within opaque models. Depending on the damage measurement parameters required, there are multiple techniques that can provide methods of "seeing" the GSW pattern within an opaque model. The aim of this paper was to test several of these techniques within a cadaveric animal limb model to determine the most effective. The techniques of interest were flash X-ray, ultrasound, physical dissection, and computed-tomography (CT). Fallow deer hind limbs were chosen for the model with four limbs used for each technique tested. Quarantined 7.62 × 39 mm ammunition was used for each shot, and each limb was only shot once, on an outdoor range with shots impacting at muzzle velocity. Flash X-ray provided evidence of yaw within the limb during the projectile's flight; ultrasound though able to visualise the GSW track, was too subjective and was abandoned; dissection proved too unreliable due to the tissue being cadaveric so also too subjective; and lastly, CT with contrast provided excellent imaging in multiple viewing planes and 3D image reconstruction; this allowed versatile measurement of the GSW pattern to collect dimensions of damage as required. Of the different techniques examined in this study, CT with contrast proved the most effective to allow precise GSW pattern analysis within a cadaveric animal limb model. These findings may be beneficial to others wishing to undertake further ballistic study both within clinical and forensic fields.

A distant relationship?—investigation of correlations between DNA isolated from backspatter traces recovered from firearms, wound profile characteristics, and shooting distance

“…Arguable, this is due to the artificial structure of the model. In real cases, human brains affected by gunshot injury can rarely be processed in this manner; hence, CT imaging—even lacking contrast agent—is the means of choice for visualizing the wound channel [ 34 ]. The results of radiological analyses and imaging will improve by the involvement of experts in forensic radiology and wound ballistics as well as appropriate software for diagnostic purposes.…”

The dynamic impact behavior of the human neurocranium

“…The testing velocities in this given study are in line with head impacts in contact sports, including elbow to head impact (1.7 to 4.6 m/s) or head to head impacts (1.5 to 3.0 m/s) in football 32 . It has to be acknowledged that a variety of head impacts, including falls from moving bikes (approximately 11 m/s) 33 or gunshot wounds, where the ammunition moves at a velocity of several hundred meters 34 are far beyond the here tested velocity range. However, the authors hypothesize that the velocity range of head impacts in vivo covers the entire range from almost static to the highest velocity gunshot impacts.…”

Ultrasound with needle guiding exploration as a real-time modality for exploration of air rifle bullet close to cervical spine: A case report

“…Ultrasound is a portable, quick and non-invasive imaging study method that offers a non-radiating modality to figure out gunshot wounds. It has an advantage over CT scans and conventional radiographs to allow real-time dynamic evaluations to confirm the lesions' accurate area before surgical exploration and describe the surrounding tissue environment [ 8 , 9 ]. However, ultrasound is very operator-dependent and difficult to perform quickly and precisely without experience.…”