Citation

Ordog GJ, Wasserberger J, Balasubramanium S. Ann. Emerg. Med. 1984; 13(12): 1113-1122.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1984, American College of Emergency Physicians, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

6507972

Abstract

Ballistics is the study of the natural laws governing projectile missiles and their predictable performances, and wound ballistics is the study of a missile's effect on living tissue. A knowledge of these topics is essential to determine the extent and type of injury from a missile. The type of missile can often be determined by radiography. The caliber can be measured directly if the bullet is close to the x-ray plate and the x-ray tube is at least six feet from the film. Changing these distances can result in a maximum magnification of the bullet image of 20%, and the exact amount can be calculated using a formula provided. Definitions of ballistic and wound ballistic terms are provided, as are examples of wound ballistics in application.