Attached
Introduction
Firearm injuries are commonly encountered
in criminal assaults. Forensic pathologistnot
only plays a vital role in solving the medicolegal issues but also in the clinical
management of the victim.
Case report
A 31 year Old man was admitted to the
accident service unit with multiple cut
injuries. Healleged that he was assaulted
with a heavy sharp weapon and also shot
with a firearm resembling a revolver.
Though he saw the weapon and heard the
noise, he was not certain about the position
of the entry wound on his own body. On
admission he was in severe pain with pallor
and dyspnoea. His blood pressure was
100/70 mmFfg. An inter-costal drainage
tube was inserted in to the left chest which
drained 600 ml of blood in the first hour. All
cut injuries were sutured. Four pints of
blood were transfused. FAST scan was
normal. The initial chest x-ray failed to
detect any foreign body.
The medico-legal examination revealed
tattooing around the sutured chest wound
indicating it to be the entry of the projectile.
The absence of an exit wound suggested the
existence of the projectile within the
body. Upon the request of the JMO, serial xrays were taken revealing the presence of a
bullet at the inferior angle of the left scapula
which was later removed by the surgeon.
1. Entrywound withtattooing
2.Chest X ray reveals bullet
Conclusion
This caseelaborates the contribution of the
JMO towards the clinical management of
victims of firearm injuries. It also highlights
the need of repeat serial X-rays to detect
embedded foreign bodies.
