Firearm Projectile Research Articles

Method based on computational intelligence techniques for localization of firearms projectiles inserted into the human body, by high sensitivity magnetic measurements

In modern society, one of the most frequent clinical cases involves location and extraction of firearms projectiles, usually made of lead, a non-ferromagnetic material. The development of a technique that allows the precise location of these projectiles will aid their surgical removal, which has a great relevance because it contributes directly to the increase of the survival rate of wounded patients. This work presents and discusses a new approach, based on computational intelligence techniques, aiming at locating firearm projectiles inserted into the human body, by processing the information contained in magnetic field maps. The projectile is modelled by a sphere with radius a, located on a search space contained in a xy plane, that is situated at a distance h from the sensor, along the z axis. The x and y positions of the projectile were estimated by a windowing algorithm. In turn, the distance h between the sphere and the sensor is inferred by neural network, and the radius of the sphere a is estimated by a genetic algorithm. The obtained results indicate that the developed technique was capable to estimate all parameters with high accuracy and precision.

Biomedical comparison of magnetometers for non-ferromagnetic metallic foreign body detection

The location and surgical removal of foreign bodies in patients is still challenging, especially for firearm projectiles, which are small and non-ferromagnetic. Conventional location techniques use ionizing radiation, posing health risks while the procedures often last several hours and end unsuccessfully. The use of high sensitivity magnetometers provides a non-invasive and innocuous alternative for metallic foreign body location. The developed technique consists of a primary AC magnetic field generator (a solenoid) inducing eddy currents in non-ferromagnetic metallic foreign bodies, which results in an ultra-low secondary magnetic field that can be measured. This work compares the initially developed theoretical technique using Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometers with the developed prototypes using lower cost alternatives, namely Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) and Giant Magnetoimpedance (GMI). The comparison is based on biomedical device requirements for widespread clinical application. The proposed GMI location system is deemed the most qualified for clinical use.

The role of the immunohistochemical investigations in the documentation of intravitality and severity of the gunshot injuries to the soft tissues

The objective of the present study was to determine intravitality and severity of a gunshot-inflicted trauma making use of the immunohistochemical (IGH) methods for the evaluation of the injury to the soft tissues of the wound canal. The immunohistochemical methods were employed to estimate the expression of fibrinogen and vimentin. The positive immunohistochemical reaction was obtained in the fibrinogen assay whereas the reaction in the zone of necrosis was negative. These findings give evidence of the thermal impact produced by the firearm projectile on the soft tissues. Deformation of the cytoskeleton registered in the IGH test for vimentin suggests its disintegration and therefore the severity of the injury. It is concluded that the investigations with the use of the immunohistochemical methods, make it possible to identify the affected parts of the wound canal.

State of the art in the treatment of mandibular fractures caused by firearms: case report

ABSTRACT Injuries to the face represent a significant risk to the health of the individual, mainly because of its significance, both functional, because it houses sensory organs and part of the respiratory and digestive systems, as well as esthetic. In this scenario, gunshot wounds in this location cause great concern on account of the magnitude of the damage, and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology team must act so that the treatment enables the rehabilitation of the patient in the shortest possible time, with a minimum of complications and sequelae. The objective of this study is to report a clinical case of a 19-year-old female patient with a comminuted fracture of the mandible body caused by a firearm projectile, treated immediately with stable internal fixation using the 2.00 mm plate-screw system for simplification of the fracture and a 2.4 mm reconstruction locking-plate on the bone gap. Relevant aspects of the surgical technique and tactics are reviewed and long-term follow-up of the patient is presented.

On the possibilities for the identification of the signs of the thermal impact of a gunshot associated with the formation of the resulting wound

The present review of the literature publications is focused on the methods designed for the identification of the signs of the thermal impact of a gunshot associated with the formation of the resulting wound inflicted by various firearm projectiles. The historical and contemporary aspects of this topic are discussed with special reference to the immunodiagnostics as a new method extending the possibilities of forensic medical histology for the evaluation of the injuries to the soft tissues under the influence of thermal factors of the gunshot producing the firearm trauma.

The establishment of the form of bullet morphology of fractures of the flat bones

In the work were studied morphological features of bone tissue destruction, which may set the shape of the bullet. We considered problems of theoretical mechanics helped to explain the mechanism of formation of a perforated fractures of the flat bones from the effect of gunshot shells one - and doradca form. The proposed mechanisms allow to explain the difference in terms of destruction of bone tissue when exposed to fire shells one - and doradca forms, and as a consequence conduct a group identification form a firearm projectile according to the morphological characteristics of gunshot gunshot fractures of the flat bones.
 The objects of the study there was an entrance gunshot gunshot fractures, which were formed from bullets one and Dorado form of the archival material Department of forensic crimaldi Kiev city clinical Bureau of forensic medical examination and obtained experimentally gunshot gunshot fractures of the flat bones. To assess the fracture mechanics of the flat bones, we used the data of theoretical mechanics. Justification of destruction of flat bones from the bullets odnorodno forms we considered for the problem Businesa, and destruction of flat bones from the bullets doradca forms on the example of the Hertz problem and model of hill-Johnson. The results obtained were processed by methods of variation statistics.

Neck Trauma Deaths In Brazil: Review Of 541 Cases.

Neck trauma is associated with high morbidity and mortality. To establish the profile of death by neck trauma in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte (BH), Brazil, fatal cases subjected to necropsy at the Forensic Medicine Institute of BH 2006 to 2012 were evaluated. A total of 541 necropsy reports were analyzed; most victims were male (82%), single (70%) and non-white (72%). Almost half of the victims were under 30 years old (47%). Penetrating neck trauma was the most prevalent injury (74%), mainly caused by firearm projectiles (54%), and most cases were of homicide victims (67%). Alcohol consumption before death and positive drug tests were found in almost half of the cases (42% and 45%, respectively). Establishing the sociodemographic and behavioral profile of victims as well the intrinsic characteristics of this type of trauma are potentially relevant for identifying the high-risk population and for elaborating intervention strategies.

Descriptive study of the profiles of victims of firearm projectile injuries and healthcare costs in a hospital in the Viva Sentinela Network

to describe the profile of victims with injuries caused by firearm projectiles and the cost of treatment at a referral hospital in Midwestern Brazil belonging to the Viva Sentinela Network. a descriptive study with convenience samplie was conducted from January to March 2013; data sources were interviews, patients' medical records, and the hospital statistics department. the 150 victims who participated were predominantly male (94.7%), young (67.3%), and drug/alcohol users (80.0%); the main reason of these incidents was drug trafficking/drug debt (45.3%); average health care costs were R$1,291.93 per case. the majority of victims were young male users of alcohol/drugs, and involvement with trafficking was the most frequent reason for victimization; average health care costs for these patients were high.

Minimally Invasive Firearm Projectile Removal With the Use of Image Intensifiers

Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic Univ Estadual Paulista Juelio de Mesquita Filho - UNESP

REMOÇÃO DE FRAGMENTO DENTÁRIO DESLOCADO EM CAVIDADE ORAL POR PROJÉTIL DE ARMA DE FOGO: RELATO DE DOIS CASOS

Within the facial trauma field of study, injuries from firearm projectiles are considered the second most common death cause, surpassed only by car accidents. Such injuries can result in comminuted fractures causing great substance loss and making it rather difficult to reconstruct the affected site. Furthermore, tissue fragments, the projectile itself or affected surface can be displaced to other regions in the oral cavity. The imaging exams, like computed tomography, are essential for determining fractures or foreign bodies. Any fragments as well as unviable tissues and teeth should be carefully removed, by conservative debridement and wound repairs. This study aims to report two cases of patients wounded by firearm projectiles in which teeth fragments were displaced to other areas of the oral cavity. They were removed later on in an outpatient clinic.

Caracterización epidemiológica del trauma craneoencefálico fatal en Cartagena, Colombia, 2007-2011

Resumen. Introducción: el trauma craneoencefálico fatal es de común ocurrencia en nuestro medio, sin que tengamos estadísticas confiables sobre su frecuencia real. Metodología: se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, con base en los registros del Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses de la Unidad Básica de Cartagena, Colombia. Resultados: las tasas de mortalidad oscilaron de 7 a 14 por cada 100 000 habitantes por año, durante el período analizado, presentándose con mayor frecuencia en el sexo masculino, en una proporción que varió de 25:1 en el primer año estudiado, a 10:1 al final del período, y en edades desde los 20 a los 35 años. La causa se debió a heridas perforantes por proyectiles de arma de fuego en el 56,8 % de los casos, seguido por lesiones en accidente de tránsito en un 32,4 %, con lesiones de localización supratentorial en el 82,8 % de los casos. El 69,9 % de las víctimas falleció en el lugar de los hechos, afectando individuos entre los 20 y 35 años de edad. La georeferenciación de los casos permitió observar que las comunas en donde hubo mayor número de casos fue en las 1, 4 y 11, correspondientes a las comunas Histórica, Caribe Norte y la localidad la Virgen y Turística. Conclusiones: El trauma craneoencefálico fatal es de frecuente ocurrencia en laciudad, en individuos del sexo masculino, en edades de 20 a 35 años, debido en su mayoría a heridas por arma de fuego, de manera homicida, seguido por accidentes de tránsito. Es necesario ahondar en los hechos relacionados con estos resultados.

Performance of primary repair on colon injuries sustained from low-versus high-energy projectiles

Among various reasons, colon injuries may be caused by low- or high-energy firearm bullets, with the latter producing a temporary cavitation phenomenon. The available treatment options include primary repair and two-stage management, but recent studies have shown that primary repair can be widely used with a high success rate. This paper investigates the differences in performance of primary repair on these two types of colon injuries. Two groups of patients who sustained colon injuries due to single gunshot wounds, were retrospectively categorized based on the type of bullet. Primary colon repair was performed in all patients selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria (Stone and Fabian's criteria). An almost absolute homogeneity was attained among the groups in terms of age, latent time before surgery, and four trauma indexes. Only one patient from the low-energy firearm projectile group (4%) developed a postsurgical complication versus nine patients (25.8%) from the high-energy group, showing statistically significant difference (p = 0.03). These nine patients experienced the following postsurgical complications: pneumonia, abscess, fistula, suture leakage, and one multiorgan failure with sepsis. Previous studies concluded that one-stage primary repair is the best treatment option for colon injuries. However, terminal ballistics testing determined the projectile's path through the body and revealed that low-energy projectiles caused considerably lesser damage than their high-energy counterparts. Primary colon repair must be performed definitely for low-energy short firearm injuries but very carefully for high-energy injuries. Given these findings, we suggest that the treatment option should be determined based not only on the bullet type alone but also on other clinical findings.

Establishing the fact of ricochet of a firearm projectile

Establishing the fact of ricochet of a firearm projectile

How far does it get?—The effect of shooting distance and type of firearm on the simultaneous analysis of DNA and RNA from backspatter recovered from inside and outside surfaces of firearms

When a firearm projectile hits a biological target a spray of biological material (e.g. blood and tissue) is ejected from the entrance wound and propelled back into the direction of the firearm. This phenomenon has been termed ‘backspatter’ and if backspattered biological material reaches the firearm on its backward trajectory it may persist on and be recovered from the firearm's inside surfaces. Molecular genetic analysis of backspatter generated by contact shots and shots from very short distances has already been demonstrated to critically contribute to victim identification and the reconstruction of firearm-related crimes.It is not known, however, up to what shooting distance can backspatter be found on firearms’ inside surfaces and what influence the weapon's type and caliber has on backspatter attributes (e.g. reach, amount and distribution).Therefore, the present pilot study investigated the effect of serval combinations of shooting distances and types of firearms and ammunitions on the analyzability of co-extracted DNA and micro-RNA in samples of backspatter collected from interior and exterior surfaces of the firearms after experimental shootings employing standardized ballistic models.We demonstrate the limiting effect of shooting distance and the type of firearm on the yield of nucleic acids recovered from backspatter and the success rates of forensic DNA profiling and RNA based body-fluid and organ tissue identification in experimental shootings.

Prognostic factors of penetrating neck trauma

AbstractThe neck is vulnerable to trauma because of vital structures and possible major injuries with high morbidity and mortality rates.Aim: To evaluate the outcome in patients with penetrating cervical wounds.Methods: The medical registries of 39 patients were analyzed retrospectively from 2001 to 2009. Penetrating wounds were defined as injuries that penetrated beyond the platysma muscle. Age, gender, etiology, wound site, injured structures, treatment, and outcome were analyzed. Fisher's exact test was adopted to establish the link between these variables and the outcome (discharge or death).Results: Of 39 patients, 33 (84.62%) were men with a mean age of 28 years. The main cause was firearm projectiles - 19 (48.72%) cases; the most frequently affected zone was zone II - 29 (74.36%). Thirteen (33.3%) cases of hemodynamic instability were observed, and the average hospital stay was 14 (1-99) days. The main indication for surgical intervention was the presence of profuse hemorrhage, in eight (20.5%) cases. The main structures affected were the cervical veins (20.5%). There were eight (20.51%) deaths. Younger patients had a better prognosis.Conclusion: The mortality rate was 20.51%. Patients below age 26 years had a better prognosis.

Vascular trauma in the Amazon - the challenge of great distances.

to evaluate the incidence of unfavorable outcomes in vascular trauma patients and their possible correlation to the distance between the city where the injury was sustained and the hospital where the patient received definitive treatment. descriptive and retrospective study. Data were collected from medical records of patients submitted to surgical procedures for arterial or venous injuries from February 2011 to February 2013 at the only trauma center providing vascular surgery in a vast area of the Amazon region. Trauma date, patient gender and age, mechanism and anatomic topography of injury, surgical management, need for surgical re-intervention, hospitalization period, postoperative complications, mortality and limb amputation rates were analyzed. The incidence of unfavorable outcomes was assessed according to the distance between the city where the vascular injury was sustained and the trauma center. One hundred seventy-three patients with 255 vascular injuries were analyzed; 95.95% were male (p<0.05), mean age of 28.92 years; 47.4% were caused by firearm projectiles (p<0.05); topographic distribution: 45.66% lower limbs (p<0.05), 37.57% upper limbs, 6.94% abdominal, 5.2% thoracic and 4.62% were cervical vascular injuries; 51.42% of patients required hospitalization for seven days or less (p<0.05); limb amputation was necessary in 15.6% and the overall mortality was 6.36%. distances greater than 200 Km were associated to longer hospitalization period; distances greater than 300 Km were associated to increased limb amputation probability; severe vascular trauma have an increased death probability when patients need to travel more than 200 Km for surgical treatment.

Simultaneous analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, mRNA and miRNA from backspatter from inside parts of firearms generated by shots at "triple contrast" doped ballistic models.

When a firearm projectile hits a biological target a spray of biological material (e.g., blood and tissue fragments) can be propelled from the entrance wound back towards the firearm. This phenomenon has become known as "backspatter" and if caused by contact shots or shots from short distances traces of backspatter may reach, consolidate on, and be recovered from, the inside surfaces of the firearm. Thus, a comprehensive investigation of firearm-related crimes must not only comprise of wound ballistic assessment but also backspatter analysis, and may even take into account potential correlations between these emergences. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and expand the applicability of the "triple contrast" method by probing its compatibility with forensic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA and the simultaneous investigation of co-extracted mRNA and miRNA from backspatter collected from internal components of different types of firearms after experimental shootings. We demonstrate that "triple contrast" stained biological samples collected from the inside surfaces of firearms are amenable to forensic co-analysis of DNA and RNA and permit sequence analysis of the entire mtDNA displacement-loop, even for "low template" DNA amounts that preclude standard short tandem repeat DNA analysis. Our findings underscore the "triple contrast" method's usefulness as a research tool in experimental forensic ballistics.

Polymorphisms in IL-10 and INF-γ genes are associated with early atherosclerosis in coronary but not in carotid arteries: A study of 122 autopsy cases of young adults

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease, involving both genetic and environmental factors. However, the influence of genetic variations on its early development remains unclear. This study examined the association of 12 different polymorphisms with atherosclerosis severity in anterior descending coronary (DA, n=103) and carotid arteries (CA, n=66) of autopsied young adults (<30years old). Histological sections (H-E) were classified according to the American Heart Association. Polymorphisms in ACE, TNF-α (−308G/A and −238G/A), IFN-γ (+874 A/T), MMP-9 (−1562 C/T), IL-10 (−1082 A/G and −819 C/T), NOS3 (894G/T), ApoA1 (rs964184), ApoE (E2E3E4 isoforms), and TGF-β (codons 25 and 10) genes were genotyped by gel electrophoresis or automatic DNA sequencing. Firearm projectile or car accident was the main cause of death, and no information about classical risk factors was available. Histological analysis showed high prevalence of type III atherosclerotic lesions in both DA (69%) and CA (39%) arteries, while severe type IV and V lesions were observed in 14% (DA) and 33% (CA). Allele frequencies and genotype distributions were determined. Among the polymorphisms studied, IFN-γ and IL-10 (−1082 A/G) were related to atherosclerosis severity in DA artery. No association between genotypes and lesion severity was found in CA. In conclusion, we observed that the high prevalence of early atherosclerosis in young adults is associated with IFN-γ (p<0.001) and IL-10 (p=0.013) genotypes. This association is blood vessel dependent. Our findings suggest that the vascular system presents site specialization, and specific genetic variations may provide future biomarkers for early disease identification.

Saturnism after accident by large caliber firearm: case report

Saturnism is the poisoning that occurs in activities with high occupational exposure to lead (Pb). Although less common, poisoning can occur after incidents with firearm projectiles (FAP). The present study describes a clinical-surgical case of saturnism by FAP accident in a male patient exposed to multiple fragments and blood lead limiting levels. His main complaint in a maxillofacial consultation was “lead in the body”. After several surgeries and controls between 2007 and 2011, the patient had decreased blood lead levels from 44 mcg/dL to 15.6 mcg/dL and improvement in urinary tract infections, depressions, and mood changes. Saturnism should be included in the diagnostic investigation of patients wounded by gunshots. The proper poisoning diagnosis certainly will assist in the appropriate intervention.

Critical analysis of thoracotomies performed in the emergency room in 10 years

To conduct a critical analysis of thoracotomies performed in the emergency rooms. We analyzed mortality rates and survival as outcome variables, mechanism of injury, site of injury and anatomic injury as clinical variables, and gender and age as demographic variables of patients undergoing thoracotomy in the emergency room after traumatic injury. Of the 105 patients, 89.5% were male. The average age was 29.2 years. Penetrating trauma accounted for 81% of cases. The most common mechanism of trauma was wound by a firearm projectile (gunshot), in 64.7% of cases. Patients with stab wounds (SW) accounted for 16.2% of cases. Overall survival was 4.7%. Survival by gunshot was 1.4%, and by SW, 23.5%. The ERT following blunt trauma showed a 100%mortality. The results obtained in the Emergency Hospital of Porto Alegre POA-HPS are similar to those reported in the world literature.