The ability to act--multiple suicidal gunshot wounds

Multiple self-inflicted gunshot wounds are rare and usually present a challenge to the forensic pathologist in determining the manner of death. Determining a person’s capability to act following a gunshot wound can be of major importance in crime scene reconstruction and in differentiation between homicide and suicide. Questions concerning the possibility of physical activity following a given gunshot wound are repeatedly raised in court. We report herein three unusual cases of suicide involving multiple gunshot wounds; all the victims suffered gunshot wounds of the head without immediate incapacitation. In the first two cases, the head was target for two gunshots. Third case was a combination of two gunshots to the head and chest. In the text, we focus on the victim’s ability to act after the first shot, with regards to the character and localization of the gunshot wound. Also, we focus on findings that are typical for a repeated suicidal shot.     

Intracranial Hemorrhage Associated with Tangential Gunshot Wounds to the Head

Abstract. Tangential gunshot wounds (TGSWs) to the head are gunshot wounds in which the bullet or bullet fragments do not penetrate the inner table of the skull. Objectives: To determine the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) associated with TGSW to the head and to assess the ability of selected clinical criteria to predict ICH in this patient population. Methods : A retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed as having TGSWs to the head presenting to the ED of Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center from October 1, 1993, to May 31, 1996. Results : Four hundred twenty patients with gunshot wounds to the head presented to the ED. CT confirmed the diagnosis of TGSWs in 154 patients (36.7%). Head CT of patients with TGSWs revealed 25 (16.2%) skull fractures and 37 (24.0%) ICHs. Fourteen (56.0%) skull fractures were depressed. Of patients with a CT-doc-umented TGSW to the head, 23 (16.1%) had a history of a loss of consciousness (LOC), 129 (84.3%) had a normal neurologic examination in the ED, 17 (11.1%) had a Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) < 15, and 75 (48.7%) had retained extracranial bullets or bullet fragments. Of all patients with TGSWs to the head, 113 had a GCS of 15 with no LOC and a normal neurologic examination, with 17 of these 113 patients (15.0%) having ICH. One patient died while hospitalized. Fifty-six (36.6%) patients were released home directly from the ED. Five clinical criteria (history of LOC, GCS < 15 on ED presentation, skull fracture, location of TGSW on the skull, and presence of extra-cranial bullet fragments) were examined to determine their ability to predict ICH. None of these criteria either alone or in combination were adequately predictive of ICH. Conclusion : In this series, 1 in 4 patients with a TGSW to the head had an ICH. All patients with TGSWs to the head should undergo head CT to rule out depressed skull fractures and ICH.     

高海拔地区颅脑火器伤的评估与护理对策

目的探讨高海拔地区颅脑火器伤的评估与护理，为临床工作提供依据。方法对18例颅脑火器伤患者进行回顾性分析，根据患者的伤情和手术，给予相应的评估和护理对策。结果通过对患者意识、瞳孔、肢动、颅内压、生命体征、尿量及颜色、胃液pH、血气分析及创面的动态评估，能及时发现患者的病情变化和继发性损害。结论适宜的血压维持和颅压控制，有效的呼吸道管理，各种感染的预防控制及早期的营养、心理支持和功能康复等综合护理，能降低患者伤残率，提高生活质量。     

Initial management and long‐term follow up after the rehabilitation of a patient with severe dentoalveolar trauma: A case report

Dental trauma is common and for patients who suffer significant oral injuries, rehabilitation can be challenging to the clinical team. This case report describes the successful prosthetic replacement of multiple missing teeth lost due to severe dentoalveolar trauma, using iliac crest bone grafting, an implant‐retained removable dental prosthesis and implant‐supported crowns. Good functionality and aesthetic outcome were achieved.     

高原高寒战时环境肢体枪弹伤后电解质代谢的动物实验研究

目的 探讨高原高寒环境下平战时肢体枪弹伤后血浆电解质代谢的特点.方法 将24头实验猪随机分为高原战时致伤组(GZ)、高原平时致伤组(GP)和平原平时致伤组(PP),每组8头.分别于伤前、伤后30分钟、2、6、12小时、1、2、3、5、7、10、14天采静脉血测定钾、钠、氯和钙、镁、磷的含量.结果 伤后平原平时组和高原平...     

Shot by a Gun … Missed by a Provider

Background

Botulism is a paralytic disease caused by the neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. The majority of cases are due to ingestion or injection drug use. Wound botulism from traumatic injury is exceedingly rare, with only one to two cases reported each year in the United States.

Pathogenesis and outcomes of traumatic injuries of the esophagus

Traumatic injury of the esophagus is extremely uncommon. The aims of this study were to use the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study (PTOS) database to identify clinical factors predictive of esophageal trauma, and to report the morbidity and mortality of this injury. A cross‐sectional review of patients presenting to 20 Level I trauma centers in Pennsylvania from 2004 to 2010 was performed. We compared clinical and demographic variables between patients with and without esophageal trauma both prior to and after arrival in the emergency room (ER). Primary mechanism of injury and clinical outcomes were analyzed. There were 231 694 patients and 327 (0.14%) had esophageal trauma. Patients with esophageal trauma were considerably younger than those without this injury. The risk of esophageal trauma was markedly increased in males (odds ratio [OR] = 2.62 [CI 1.98–3.47]). The risk was also increased in African Americans (OR = 4.61 [CI 3.65–5.82]). Most cases were from penetrating gunshot and stab wounds. Only 34 (10.4%) of esophageal trauma patients underwent an upper endoscopy; diagnosis was usually made by CT, surgery, or autopsy. Esophageal trauma patients were more likely to require surgery (35.8% vs. 12.5%; P < 0.001). Patients with esophageal trauma had a substantially higher mortality than those without the injury (20.5% vs. 1.4%; P < 0.005). In logistic regression modeling, traumatic injury of the esophagus (OR = 3.43 [2.50–4.71]) and male gender (OR = 1.52 [1.46–1.59]) were independently associated with mortality. For those patients with esophageal trauma, there was an association between trauma severity and mortality (OR = 1.10 [1.07–1.12]) but not for undergoing surgery within the first 24 hours of hospitalization (OR = 0.84; 0.39–1.83). Our study on traumatic injury of the esophagus is in concordance with previous studies demonstrating that this injury is rare but carries considerable morbidity (～46%) and mortality (～20%). The injury has a higher morbidity and mortality when the thoracic esophagus is involved compared to the cervical esophagus alone. The injury most commonly occurs in younger, Black males suffering gunshot wounds. Efforts to control gun violence in Pennsylvania are of paramount importance.     

Surgical and Prosthodontic Treatment of a Patient with Significant Trauma to the Middle and Lower Face Secondary to a Gunshot Wound: A Clinical Report

Large defects of dentofacial structures may result from trauma, disease (including neoplasms), and congenital anomalies. The location and size of the defects are related to difficulties that patients report relative to speech, mastication, swallowing, facial esthetics, and self-image. This article reports on the evaluation and treatment of a patient who suffered significant trauma to the lower and mid-face secondary to a gunshot injury. It describes the initial presentation, life-saving procedures, and subsequent bone grafts, implant placement, and prosthetic treatments required to rehabilitate the patient to a condition that closely approximated his preoperative condition. This clinical report confirms that no matter the degree of complexity involved in treating the results of significant facial trauma, successful treatment is dependent on thorough physical and radiographic examinations, development of the appropriate diagnoses, and treatment based on sound prosthodontic and surgical principles.     

超声显像对枪弹伤失活组织区域判定的价值

目的：探讨应用超声显像技术判定枪弹伤失活组织区域的价值。方法：应用高频二维超声和能量多普勒成像技术检测猪后肢软组织枪弹伤创伤弹道及其周围组织成像特点，并结合病理检查分析其声学基础。结果：（1）枪弹伤失活组织区之一的原发伤道伛在二维超声下有显著的特点，呈一走行清晰，内径不一，内部回声随时间延长而呈动态变化的管道状回声。（2）伤道周围组织超声显像特点与距伤道远近密切相关。距伤道较近区域（挫伤区，为失活组织）二维超声下组织纹理明显紊乱，能量多普勒模式下血流信号稀少，而距伤道较远区域（震荡区，为变性组织）血流信号丰富，表现为血管内径扩张，血流速度加快，并多以静脉信号为主，结论：综合应用超声显像技术可对枪弹伤失活组织区域俾一基本判定，促进枪弹伤救治水平的提高。