Abstract

Wound ballistics examines wounds resulting from penetration, permanent cavity, temporary cavity (blast effect), shock waves, primary and secondary fragmentations created by a firearm projectile. As injuries caused by the direct effect of the projectile, such as penetration and permanent cavity, temporary cavities and shock waves can also cause fatal injuries with their indirect effects. In our study, we aimed to discuss a case that was injured in the neck area with a gunshot bullet and had a life-threatening injury as a result of arteria vertebralis injury due to the blast effect of the bullet, in the light of the literature. It was reported that a 17-year-old female patient was injured by firearm projectile. It was sent to us by the judicial authority for the preparation of a forensic report. It is recorded that a filling defect was observed in the right arteria vertebralis. It was determined that the bullet did not directly damage the right arteria vertebralis. It was concluded that the filling defect occurred as a result of the dissection caused by the explosion effect of the firearm. Firearm injuries produces fatal consequences depending on the degree of injury to the tissue or organ compatible with its trajectory. As a result of the pressure effect created by the firearm projectile, injuries occur in the tissues due to the blast effect, also called temporary cavity. Although the blast effect is not due to the direct effect of the firearm projectile, such as penetration and permanent cavity, it causes injuries to adjacent tissues. While tissue damage resulting from blast impact is frequently described in intracranial and intrathoracic injuries in the literature, in our case, isolated arteria vertebralis dissection as a result of blast impact was presented as a rare condition.

Key words: Blast impact, gunshot wound, forensic examination