Gunshot Wound Review

There is no serious argument about the wounding potential of various kinds of penetrating projectiles. The laws of physics in concert with modern bullet testing have clarified and quantified the mechanisms by which bullets disrupt tissue. Despite this scientific background, much misinformation persists in the wound-ballistics literature. This article reviews the interaction of penetrating projectiles with human tissue. Understanding of wound ballistics allows the emergency physician to become a more informed reader of its literature, as well as a more reliable provider of care to the wounded patient. [Fackler ML: Gunshot wound review. Ann Emerg Med August 1996;28:194-203.]