Increased damage from rifle wounds of the chest caused by bullets striking commonly carried military equipment.
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.
Dakak
Mehmet
M
Thoracic Surgery Department, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. dakakm@yahoo.com
Uzar
Ali Ihsan
AI
Sağlam
Mutlu
M
Ozer
Tahir
T
Gürkök
Sedat
S
Balkanli
Kunter
K
Oner
Köksal
K
Sen
Dervip
D
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*
D008670:Metals