Gunshot Trauma

The characteristics of gunshot wounds depend on several factors such as ammunition type, projectile velocity, and the lesions caused by the projectile. Although in theory the entrance and the exit wounds can be differentiated and the intracorporeal trajectory determined at autopsy, in reality determining these characteristics can be challenging, particularly when multiple projectiles are involved. Postmortem imaging, particularly computed tomography (CT) scan and postmortem angiography enable a quick and efficient overview of the body before the autopsy, which can assist in the determination of trajectories and of the extent of wounds as well as in the precise location of bullets or radiolucent projectile fragments. Moreover, in cases presenting bone fractures, a beveling of bone and the location of small bone and bullet fragments can help determine the projectile’s direction of travel. Postmortem radiological exams provide crucial help to the wound ballistics analysis and can therefore be considered to be an important complement to the autopsy.