When bullets produce tracks in dense
tissues, such as muscle, liver, spleen and blood, the tissues are compressed
ahead of the track by a compression wave, in the form of a shock wave of
spherical form. Tissue damage can also be produced at a considerable distance
away from the original bullet track. Thus, the urinary bladder, stomach and
colon may be ruptured in high velocity wounds situated at a remote distance
from the abdominal cavity itself. The site of the permanent local track is
marked by tissues which have been totally destroyed, and this is similar to
low–velocity bullets. Surrounding this is a layer of necrotic debris caused by
the temporary cavitation effect and secondary missiles, highly contaminated by
micro–organisms. A variable thickness layer of live tissue surrounds the zone
of necrosis, consisting of an inner portion which will prove to be non–viable
as a result of the injuries sustained, and an outer portion that will remain
viable provided that optimum conditions are provided for healing. Around this
zone is the normal tissue.
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