Citation

Stefanopoulos PK, Filippakis K, Soupiou OT, Pazarakiotis VC. Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. 2014; 43(12): 1445-1458.

Affiliation

401 General Army Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijom.2014.07.013

PMID

25128259

Abstract

Firearm-related injuries are caused by a wide variety of weapons and projectiles. The kinetic energy of the penetrating projectile defines its ability to disrupt and displace tissue, whereas the actual tissue damage is determined by the mode of energy release during the projectile-tissue interaction and the particular characteristics of the tissues and organs involved. Certain projectile factors, namely shape, construction, and stability, greatly influence the rate of energy transfer to the tissues along the wound track. Two zones of tissue damage can be identified, the permanent cavity created by the passage of the bullet and a potential area of contused tissue surrounding it, produced mainly by temporary cavitation which is a manifestation of effective high-energy transfer to tissue. Due to the complex nature of these injuries, wound assessment and the type and extent of treatment required should be based on an understanding of the various mechanisms contributing to tissue damage.

Language: en