ABSTRACT
Penetrating injuries are one of the commonest methods of committing murder, of which penetrating injuries of the chest/heart are very serious and prove fatal in most of the cases (1). In a post mortem study of penetrating chest injuries at Lucknow, majority of the victims were adult male between 20-50 years of age. In majority of the cases injuries were caused by firearms usually a shot gun. Injuries by knives and daggers were also seen in few cases. Injuries were seen on the front of chest, predominantly on the left side, in majority of the cases. Lungs were damaged in all the cases. Heart; aorta & other thoracic organs were also injured in substantial number of cases. In the cases where heart was found damaged, the right ventricle was injured in majority of the cases. Two-third of the victims died within three hours after getting injuries, either on the spot or in the way to the hospital. All the cases of penetrating chest injuries were homicidal & personal rivalry was the single most common reason behind these deaths.
Subject(s)
Cause of Death , Firearms , /etiology , /mortality , Humans , Lung/injuries , Thoracic Injuries/etiology , Thoracic Injuries/mortality , Wounds, Gunshot/legislation & jurisprudence , Wounds, Gunshot/mortality , Wounds, Penetrating/etiology , Wounds, Penetrating/legislation & jurisprudence , Wounds, Penetrating/mortality , Wounds, Stab/legislation & jurisprudence , Wounds, Stab/mortalityABSTRACT
It is a perspective study of 110 cases of firearm injuries presenting at accident and emergency department Jinnah Hospital Lahore. The medicolegal services or provided by the department of forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore. Consecutive 110 cases of firearm injuries were recruited in the study presenting in the Accident and Emergency Department of Jinnah Hospital Lahore during period October 1998 to September 2000. Out of the total of 110 cases, 100 cases were males [91%]. And 10 were female [9%]. The age ranged from 0 to above 60 years. The maximum numbers 42 [38%] were found between 21 to 30 years. Rifled weapon was used in 96 cases [87.3%] and non rifled weapon [shot gun] in 14 [12.7%] near distance fire was in 23 [21%] and for distance fire in [79%]. Body parts involved were also analyzed i.e. head face neck, chest abdomen and limbs. The gravity of situation reemphasized and suggestions made to the relevant authorities for better, healthy and peaceful society