title: Loss of facial identification of the survivor after firearm injury to the head.
abstract: Firearm wounds to the head are often fatal and are routinely encountered in the practice of forensic medicine. Herein we presented a patient who was wounded with a military rifle. This condition is unique and interesting for forensic medicine because none of the vital structures or major vessels were injured although the patient had a firearm injury to his head. In contrast to many other cases, the vital signs of our patient were normal and he was conscious on admission. Although the patient was considered lucky because he was still alive, he now had an unrecognizable face.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Kolejtepe, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baransel
authors.forename: H Ergin
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Dulger
authors.forename: Yildirim A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Bayazit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005389:Firearms; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011859:Radiography; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery