Observation of wounding characteristics in dogs wounded by super velocity projectile

To understand wounding characteristics in dogs wounded by super velocity projectile with a purpose of providing a basis for prevention and treatment of such wounds.

A specially-made explosive gun was used to shoot aluminium bullet weighing 3.0 g and 1.4 g to injure both legs of dogs at velocities of 2330 m/s, 3200 m/s and 4250 m/s, respectively, and the soap specially made was also shot. At the same time, steel ball of 1.03 g was shot with a Type 53 smooth chamber gun at a speed of 1280 m/s. Within 30 min after wounding, debridement and pathological anatomy were performed and specimens were taken for light microscope observation.

When the dogs were wounded by the 3 g bullet at speed of 2330 m/s, the entrance of the left leg was penetrated explosively with a defect area of 225 cm(2), and the femur trunk was also injured and the residual femur had comminution fracture. The exit of the right leg was blindly wounded with a defect area of 63 cm(2), but only the skin was not penetrated. Both testes and part pelvis were injured too. Under light microscope, degenerative myofibers and bleeding of the spatium between the myofibers could be found at the place 4 cm away from the wounding track. Furthermore, serious bleeding of the bladder and blood vessels of the brain could be observed. The lungs showed changes of blast injury. Vacuolar change was presented in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Injuries of the animals in other two experimental groups were similar to those described above, but the defect area of the wounded track was 124 cm(2) in the group of 4250 m/s. Injuries caused by the steel ball were milder than caused by the explosive gun. The volume of the residual cavity in the soap was 5000 ml.

The super-velocity projectile causes destructive damage to the local tissues and multi-organ injuries. Therefore, the practical medical care needs not only amputation but also management of multi-organ injuries.