A Manner Wise Distribution of Fire-Arm Cases According to Major Body Part Involved among Fatal and Non-Fatal Fire-Arm Injuries at Sms Hospital Jaipur: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background : Invention of fire was the greatest invention for the human from primitive matchlock system to the
present automatic weapons. It has become the most dreaded killing tool used by human being. Proper examination
of the victims of firearm injuries needs to ascertain the characteristics of wound and body part involved to correlate
with fatalities.
Methods: A total of 115 cases of gunshot injury were included in this study carried out at the Department of
Forensic Medicine, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur over a period of 17 months from mid of May 2014 to
beginning of August 2015, after seeking permission and ethical clearance.
Results: During Study period total 115 cases were included in study. We observe finding after dividing human
body in five body region for better understanding. The commonest targeted body parts were the peripheries
including the upper and lower limbs (33.04%). The next to follow was the chest in 36 cases (31.30%). Abdomen
including pelvis was targeted in 18.26% cases and head was the soft target in only 14.78% cases. Lease affected
body part was neck with only 3 cases.
Conclusion: In 73.04% (84) cases, only a single body region was inflicted upon by use of firearm weapon. In fatal
cases (11) of firearm injuries, head (54.55%) was the most commonly targeted body part followed by chest (36.36%)
and abdomen (9.09%). This study indicated that the most common victims of firearm injuries were young males of
bread earning age. Certain changes may minimize mortality and disability due to firearm injuries, also reducing
the costs to the community. So, there is a need to decrease the number of firearms used and sold in India.