Gunshot Wounds

Bullets disrupt tissues by two principal mechanisms: Laceration and crushing which are generated by the bullet displacing the tissues in its track (“drilling effect”) and are recognized as the primary wounding mechanism produced by low velocity (< 1000 feet per second) gunshot wounds e.g. from handguns. The degree and amount of laceration and crushing are […]

Gunshot Injuries in the Emergency Department

Zones of injury of Gunshot wounding: Primary wound tract – Permanent cavity; dead, crushed tissue Contusion zone – Tissue adjacent to primary wound tract; in inflammatory state with cellular debris Concussion zone – Temporary cavity; Tissue damage occurs by stretching, shearing, and compression. Inelastic tissues (liver, bone, brain) are most susceptible due to little intrinsic […]