Three-Dimensional Modeling of Firearm Injuries in Forensic Medicine

Abstract

Introduction. Forensic medical investigations, including illustration, evidence collection, and expert conclusion preparation, have faced significant challenges in recent years. One of the primary challenges for Ukraine’s forensic medical service today is the examination of firearm-related injuries, necessitating substantial improvements to traditional methodologies. The study aimed to develop a methodology for the three-dimensional spatial reconstruction of firearm injuries. Methods. An automatic pistol CZ83 of medium caliber, manufactured in the Czech Republic and chambered for 7.65x17 mm ammunition, was used in the study. Roma Plastilina No. 1 ballistic gelatin, produced in the USA, served as the target and reproducing material for controlled ballistics tests. The experiments included 15 shots, during which the main morphological elements of skin injury, the subcutaneous adipose tissue, and the wound channel at the entry, middle, and exit points were studied. These were photographed, analyzed using photogrammetry, and converted into a three-dimensional format with the graphic editors Agisoft PhotoScan and 3Ds Max. Results. Measurements of all parameters obtained through classical methods differed significantly (p<0.05) from those obtained using 3D modeling. However, Cohen’s d values indicated that the differences were very small for defect size measurements, small for the abrasion ring and wound channel diameter across all sections, and medium for the entry wound diameter. Conclusions. The developed methodology for three-dimensional modeling allows for the accurate recording of the main morphometric parameters of firearm injuries, making it a viable alternative to traditional measurement methods.