title: Increased damage from rifle wounds of the chest caused by bullets striking commonly carried military equipment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the fragmentation effect of the bullet that passes through the radio or ammunition magazine, which are essential pieces of equipment for a soldier, in thoracic gunshot injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve adult pigs were used. The pigs were separated into three groups (each group contained four pigs). The first group was shot without any obstacle between muzzle and subject. The second group was shot through a cartridge magazine placed in front of the subject's thoracic cage. The third group was shot with a radio in front of the subject's thoracic cage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that there was a large bullet entrance and fragmentation in the pigs that were shot with a radio or magazine placed over them, and there was no fragmentation in those that were shot without any obstacle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metal equipment that soldiers carry causes bullet fragmentation. Fragmented bullets may cause excessive tissue disruption of intrathoracic vital organs.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Department, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. dakakm@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dakak
authors.forename: Ali Ihsan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Uzar
authors.forename: Mutlu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sağlam
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gürkök
authors.forename: Kunter
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balkanli
authors.forename: Köksal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: Dervip
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008670:Metals; D008887:Military Medicine; D013552:Swine; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals