Atypical wound trajectory after a tangential pistol shot

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Ballistics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• A case involving three gunshot wounds from a 7.65 mm pistol is presented.
• The victim sustained a fatal head wound, a forehead graze, and a tangential perforating wound.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trajectory of a bullet in a tangential perforating wound.
• To investigate discrepancies between estimated and actual bullet paths in soft tissue injuries.

Main Methods:

• Postmortem computed tomography (CT) and forensic autopsy were performed.
• 3D CT data was used to reconstruct the bullet's trajectory.
• Analysis of wound characteristics and tissue damage.

Main Results:

• No bony thoracic injuries or perforations of thoracoabdominal cavities were found.
• The tangential bullet created a 40-cm subcutaneous wound channel.
• The actual bullet trajectory was significantly curved, deviating from a straight path predicted by entry/exit points.

Conclusions:

• The unusual curved trajectory may be due to dynamic body movement or shallow angle of incidence causing intracutaneous deflection.
• Soft tissue resistance and yawing could also influence bullet path.
• Reconstructing bullet trajectories solely from entry and exit wounds requires caution, especially in soft tissue injuries.