THE DISTRIBUTION OF CLOTHING FIBRES IN A BALLISTIC WOUND TRACK AND ASSOCIATED INFECTION RISKS TO CIVILIAN CONFLICT CASUALTIES

Abstract

Increasing conflict occurring within civilian inhabited spaces has resulted in large volumes of projectile injuries. Hospitals run by humanitarian groups are in a state of triage for months at a time, having to adequate deliver care to potentially hundreds of wounded civilians with limited resources. Infection is a known problem in those suffering conflict related injuries. This project aims to investigate how clothing fibres, one potential carrier of bacteria flora into a wound, are distributed in a bullet wound track using ballistic gelatine. It will identify any key locations which may be commonly overlooked during the debridement procedure and generate information that can help to inform the newly emerging suggestions of using a primary closure in low-velocity gunshot wounds. This paper summarises the main literature on the area, as well as the pilot study conducted as part of an MSc by Research.