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Published on: January 29, 2018
Forensic characteristics of 325 firearm-related autopsy cases in Bursa, Türkiye: a five-year retrospective study
1Presidency of the Council of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Background:
Firearm-related deaths remain a significant global public health and medicolegal concern, with marked regional variation in their epidemiological and forensic characteristics. Autopsy-based studies provide essential data for understanding injury patterns and mechanisms of death.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics, injury patterns, shooting distance findings, and toxicological features of firearm-related deaths, and to assess their implications for medicolegal practice.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 325 firearm-related deaths identified among 7,139 autopsies performed between 2019 and 2023 at the Council of Forensic Medicine, Bursa Group Presidency. Data were obtained from autopsy reports and archival records. Variables included demographic features, firearm type, shooting distance, entrance wound characteristics, injury localization, associated trauma, and toxicological findings.
Results:
Firearm-related deaths accounted for 4.55% of all autopsies. Most cases were male (87%), with a mean age of 36.6 ± 15.3 years. Handguns were used in 94.2% of cases. Contact-range shootings were most frequent (45.5%); however, shooting distance could not be determined in a substantial proportion of cases due to clothing interference or medical intervention. Single entrance wounds were observed in 68.9% of cases, most commonly involving the head (61.2%) and thorax (39.1%). Major vascular injury and bone fractures were present in 22.8 and 89.8% of cases, respectively. Toxicological analysis revealed alcohol in 20.3%, stimulants in 12.6%, and illicit drugs in 6.2% of cases. Some cases demonstrated simultaneous positivity for more than one psychoactive substance; therefore, overlap between stimulant and illicit drug categories was possible.
Conclusion:
Firearm-related deaths predominantly affect young adult males and are associated with high lethality due to injuries involving vital anatomical regions. Autopsy findings alone may be insufficient for determining shooting distance. Integration of autopsy findings with scene investigation, clothing analysis, and clinical data is essential for accurate medicolegal interpretation.
