The massive defect to this victim’s face was caused by a .12-gauge rifled slug fired through the rear window of an automobile. Approximating the wound margins more closely delineates the skin tags, which point toward the muzzle of the gun, thereby confirming the direction of fire. Approximating gunshot wound margins involves realigning the edges of a gunshot entry or exit wound to assess tissue loss, directionality, and injury patterns. Entry wounds typically exhibit an inverted edge with abrasion collars, while exit wounds often show everted edges due to outward tissue displacement.
Fig.1 Grazing shotgun wound.
Careful approximation helps differentiate wound types, especially in close-range injuries, where powder stippling or soot deposition may alter margins. Identifying irregularities in the wound’s shape aids in trajectory analysis and caliber estimation. This procedure is critical in forensic investigations, guiding medical examiners in reconstructing shooting scenarios, determining the range, and identifying contributing ballistic factors.
Fig.2 Approximating the wound margins.
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