A Manner Wise Distribution of Fire-Arm Cases According to Major Body Part Involved among Fatal and Non-Fatal Fire-Arm Injuries at Sms Hospital Jaipur: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background : Invention of fire was the greatest invention for the human from primitive matchlock system to thepresent automatic weapons. It has become the most dreaded killing tool used by human being. Proper examinationof the victims of firearm injuries needs to ascertain the characteristics of wound and body part involved to correlatewith fatalities.Methods: A total of 115 cases of gunshot injury were included in this study carried out at the Department ofForensic Medicine, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur over a period of 17 months from mid of May 2014 tobeginning of August 2015, after seeking permission and ethical clearance.Results: During Study period total 115 cases were included in study. We observe finding after dividing humanbody in five body region for better understanding. The commonest targeted body parts were the peripheriesincluding the upper and lower limbs (33.04%). The next to follow was the chest in 36 cases (31.30%). Abdomenincluding pelvis was targeted in 18.26% cases and head was the soft target in only 14.78% cases. Lease affectedbody part was neck with only 3 cases.Conclusion: In 73.04% (84) cases, only a single body region was inflicted upon by use of firearm weapon. In fatalcases (11) of firearm injuries, head (54.55%) was the most commonly targeted body part followed by chest (36.36%)and abdomen (9.09%). This study indicated that the most common victims of firearm injuries were young males ofbread earning age. Certain changes may minimize mortality and disability due to firearm injuries, also reducingthe costs to the community. So, there is a need to decrease the number of firearms used and sold in India.