title: Ballistics for the neurosurgeon.
abstract: Craniocerebral injuries from ballistic projectiles are qualitatively different from injuries in unconfined soft tissue with similar impact. Penetrating and nonpenetrating ballistic injuries are influenced not only by the physical properties of the projectile, but also by its ballistics. Ballistics provides information on the motion of projectiles while in the gun barrel, the trajectory of the projectile in air, and the behavior of the projectile on reaching its target. This basic knowledge can be applied to better understand the ultimate craniocerebral consequences of ballistic head injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jandial
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reichwage
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duenas
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sturdivan
mesh_terms: D005389:Firearms; D044709:Forensic Ballistics; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating; D006801:Humans; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot