FIREARM WOUNDS

STUDY OF MORPHOLOGY CAUSED BY RIFLED WEAPON

Abstract

Objectives: To study the different changes occurring at cellular level in firearm injuries from near to distant shots. Study
Design: A prospective Study. Place and Duration of Study: Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar and B.V Hospital Bahawalpur. Material &
Methods: Bodies presenting for autopsy within 12 hours after firearm injury were included. Wounds expressing maximum details were selected
for study. Tissue samples were taken from wounds and preserved in 10% formalin. Sections were taken and slides were stained with Harris
Haemotoxylin. Olympus P-6 was used for photography and Nikon ( FE-2 body) for gross and microscopic photography. Results: The
morphology at cellular level was variable according to the distance of fire. Marked distortion and streaming of nuclei was more pronounced and
evident in close contact wounds. However changes were less pronounced with the increasing distance. Section of exit lesion reveled splitting
between dermis and epithelium. Further in this study rifle fire fatalities were maximum (53.33%) and distant shot fatalities were predominant
(73.33%.). Conclusion: Microscopy can also be used as an additional tool to differentiate between entry and exit wounds and for estimating
range of fire.