Agents and Mechanisms of Combat Trauma; High Velocity Missiles

Document Type : Narrative Review

Authors

Professor, Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: The velocity of war bullets, after firing and leaving the gun, is more than 600 to 700 meters per second. Their destructive effects are dependent on the amount of energy transferred to the tissues of the body. This in turn is related to the physical characteristics of the bullet (shape-size and mass of the bullet) and its velocity at the time of hitting.
Methods: To prepare the article, the library method and review study of information available in the domestic and international databases were used.
Results: The sudden and high energy transfer due to high-velocity missiles, creates a very wide destructive effect by creating the dynamic phenomenon of temporary cavitation in the tissues of the body. Interaction between the projectile and the tissues can cause the bullet to deform and possibly fragmented. The characteristics of the temporal cavity, and the shape and size of the incoming and outgoing wounds, affect the severity of the damage caused by the ammunition.
Conclusion: Most war bullets are of the high velocity, high energy type and their destruction in the human body is very high.

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