The ballistics of craniocerebral gunshot wounds.
The wounding capability of missiles is produced by the tremendous energy absorbed by the tissue. This energy can effect significant injury to structures distant from the wound tract as well as the destruction of neural tissue within the tract. Retained bullets and fragments are hazards both in their removal by increasing neural damage and in their retention by migration or as an inflammatory locus. Careful observation and clear description of the wounds prior to the disruption of surgical procedures and careful handling of possible evidence are the medical professionals' responsibilities in addition to the care of the victim. The mortality and morbidity of gunshot wounds to the head are very high. At present there seems to be little hope of either improving the prognosis of head wounds or of limiting the availability of firearms.
D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000175:diagnosis; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery