Anatomic distribution of bullet head injuries in combat fatalities

Yuval Ran, Michael Yagudaev, Yona Kosashvili, Yana Yegorov, Ori Ganor, Nachman Ash, Gil Hirschhorn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Gun-shot wound head injury comprises a substantial fraction of combat injuries and a major cause of death in the battlefield. Current shielding gear is totally ineffective against bullets, because bullet-proof materials are too heavy to be worn on the head. The aim of this work was to describe the anatomic distribution of bullet entry wounds to the head in combat fatalities and to discern whether distribution is random (null hypothesis) or not. Methods: We retrospectively examined the forensic external examination reports of all Israeli Defense Forces combat fatalities during the years 2000 to 2004, the Second Lebanon War (2006), and Operation Cast Lead (2009) and mapped the exact anatomic location of all bullet entry wounds to the calvaria. Results: We found 76 gun-shot entry wounds to the heads of 49 fatalities. Among these wounds, the occipital and anterior-temporal regions were found to be hit significantly more often than expected compared with their relative surface area (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Fifty-five percent of all injuries occurred within 15% of the surface area of skull. Conclusions: These findings imply that gun-shot entry wounds to the head are unevenly distributed. A partially bullet-proof protective helmet may prevent a substantial fraction of injuries (and fatalities) without a significant weight addition to the helmet.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)541-543
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Volume69
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Combat
  • Distribution
  • GSW
  • Head injury
  • Helmet
  • Trauma

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