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Irregular, stellate appearance with a central defect surrounded by radiating lacerations. In contact gunshot wounds with bony tissue underlying the injury, the injuries are typically called a stellate wound, where the gases exit the barrel before the projectile. As a result, the gas collides with the bone tissue, resulting in the reflection of the gases. This gas causes the expansion of subcutaneous space and pressure, which results in an explosive injury, tearing, and lacerating the skin and subcutaneous tissue, resulting in the stellate wound. Additionally, the expanding gases also cause a back-splatter of soft-tissue and blood onto the firearm and fingers.

Fig.1 Stellate gunshot wound.

Fig.2 Gases exit the barrel before the projectile. As a result, the gas collides with bone tissue & causes expansion of the subcutaneous space with tearing & laceration of the skin

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