Journal of forensic sciences
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Firearm-related injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Trauma care centers and trauma specialists (emergency medicine, trauma surgery, and neurosurgery) provide emergency care for those injured and mortally wounded from firearms. Consequently, trauma specialists may be asked to address forensic questions regarding gunshot wounds. ⋯ Twenty four (52.2%) were misinterpreted by trauma specialists. Errors included inaccurate determination of the total number of multiple penetrating and/or perforating gunshot wounds and erroneous identification of entrance and exit wounds. Of the exiting, single gunshot wounds 37% were misclassified and 73.6% of multiple gunshot wounds were interpreted incorrectly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Case Reports
Disinterment from paving materials: use of heavy equipment for exhumation and examination of bodies.
Common paving materials--concrete and asphalt--pose an unusual and complex barrier to disinterment and examination of human remains. Although not commonly encountered, these materials are seen with sufficient frequency to justify consideration of the procedures and equipment necessary for disinterment. ⋯ In each of these cases, the material was slightly different in quality, and different tools--including heavy construction equipment--were necessary. Sometimes the paving material could be managed without heavy power tools, but occasionally specialized construction tools have proven very useful.