Tangential shotgun wound of face. The edge of the dispersal cone of pellets and gas has ploughed through the cheek, and removed the ear. The facial bones and base of the skull were fractured. A tangential shotgun wound occurs when pellets graze the body at an oblique angle rather than penetrating deeply. This type of injury often results in abrasions, superficial lacerations, and irregular tearing of the skin without significant underlying tissue damage. The wound’s shape can be elliptical or elongated, reflecting the angle of impact. Forensically, tangential wounds help estimate the shooter’s distance and position. Pellet patterns, skin tattooing, and soot deposition can indicate range—close-range shots leave soot or stippling, while distant shots do not. Examining clothing and tissue for pellet trajectories aids in reconstructing events and confirming the wound’s tangential nature.
Fig.1 Tangential shotgun wound of face.
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