Epidemiological, forensic, clinical, and imaging characteristics of head injuries acquired in the suicide attempt with captive bolt gun.

Abstract

The captive bolt gun (slaughterer's gun) is a tool used in the meat industry for "humane killing" of animals. Used with the intent of suicide, the captive bolt gun causes very serious injuries. We analysed 19 self-inflicted head injuries with captive bolt gun during the past 20 years. Autopsy of 20 pigs killed by this method was also performed. All 19 cases were middle-aged men from rural areas, with low level of education, and without a previous psychiatric history. Five of them used the captive bolt gun daily in their professional activities, while the remaining 14 handled it only sometimes. In seven cases suicide was primarily successful, while in five patients, despite intensive medical care, serious craniocerebral injuries eventually resulted in death. Total mortality was 63.2%. The clinical appearance of the entrance wound and the imaging characteristics of the cranial trauma are very specific, and can be easily differentiated from firearm or other penetrating injuries. These wounds were always primarily infected with mixed bacterial flora from the skin. Therefore, besides radical primary wound care, especially of the wound canal with removal of foreign bodies, it is important to administer high doses of wide spectrum antibiotics.