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Open Access 01-07-2019 | Original Article

The effect of military clothing on gunshot wounding patterns in gelatine

Authors: Tom Stevenson, Debra J. Carr, Sarah A. Stapley

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 4/2019

Abstract

With no two gunshot wounds (GSW) being the same, novel research into wound ballistics is challenging. It is evident that the majority of previous wound ballistic research has been conducted without the presence of clothing. Whilst the effect of clothing on wound contamination has been explored, there is a paucity of literature examining the effect of clothing on GSW patterns. The aim of this study was to test the effect of Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP) UK military clothing on GSW patterns within calibrated blocks of 10% by mass gelatine, using two types of ammunition commonly used in recent conflicts—7.62 × 39 mm and 5.45 × 39 mm. In total, 36 blocks were shot, 18 by each projectile type, further divided into 6 with no clothing layers (C_nil), 6 with a single clothing layer (C_min) and 6 with maximum clothing layers (C_max) worn on active duty. Blocks were analysed with high-speed video and dissection to capture measurements of damage, and results compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed significantly different damage measurements within blocks with C_max for both ammunition types compared to the other clothing states. This may result in GSWs that require more extensive surgical management, inviting further study.

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Trouser, combat, warm weather MTP—NATO stock number (NSN): 8415–99–317-8313

T-shirt, combat, anti-static, light olive—NSN: 8415–99–813-3258

Shirt, UBACS, MTP—NSN: 8415–99–317-8402

Smock, combat, windproof, MTP—NSN: 8415–99–317-8386

Filler Osprey Mk 2—NSN: 8470–99–480-8055

Osprey MKIVA (MTP) cover brassard—NSN: 8470–99–684-4613-4

BEKO washing machine (model number WM84125W) used on a cotton cycle lasting 79 min per cycle with a water temperature of 40 °C; BEKO tumble dryer (model number DSV64W) used on a 60-min cycle at the standard factory set temperature (not listed).

The effects of C_min on GSW patterns were presented as a poster at the 30th International Symposium on Ballistics [45].

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Title: The effect of military clothing on gunshot wounding patterns in gelatine
Authors: Tom Stevenson
Debra J. Carr
Sarah A. Stapley
Publication date: 01-07-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-018-1972-8

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The effect of military clothing on gunshot wounding patterns in gelatine

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