Forensic Medical Characteristics of Physical Manifestations of Explosive Injury

The morphological characteristics of the injuries of those people who died as a result of fragments of explosive devices (grenades, anti-personnel mines, artillery shells, rockets, etc.), which were often accompanied by a thermal effect, as physical manifestations of explosive trauma, are given. In the vast majority of cases, the morphological features of the injuries were identical, which indicated the same type of formation of fragments from the hard shell of explosive devices during the explosion. At close range, fragments act as blunt objects with high kinetic energy, which provides them with significant penetrating power and the formation of multiple fatal penetrating wounds of the body. The aim of the study. To determine the morphological characteristics of the injuries of persons who died as a result of the action of explosive devices (debris/element or fragment of an explosive device or a secondary projectile). Materials and methods. 8 corpses of people who died as a result of the penetrating action of a blunt solid object with a limited contact surface (debris/element or fragment of an explosive device) were examined (archival "Conclusions of Expert Research" of the Kharkiv Regional Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination for 2023-2024). The damage was examined visually and with the help of a stereomicroscope MBS-10. In some damages, small inclusions of the remains of the destroyed striking element (debris/elements or fragments of the explosive device) were found, which were also investigated later. Quantitative analysis was carried out using standard methods of variational statistics. Scientific research. "Forensic medical assessment of the statute of limitations for death and the severity of bodily injuries using modern expert diagnostic methods" state registration number 0124U000904. Implementation dates 2024-2026. Bioethics. Approved by the Bioethics Commission of the KhNMU (protocol No. 14 dated 12/22/2024). The results. Morphological manifestations of explosive trauma were found on the corpses of persons who died as a result of the penetrating effect of fragments of explosive devices (artillery shells, mines, ballistic missiles, etc.). They are mostly of the same type, as well as the elemental content of metals in them, which indicates that all penetrating bodily injuries were caused by the action of a blunt solid object with a limited contact surface (debris/element or fragment of an explosive device) that acted with high kinetic energy, while having significant penetrating power. Conclusions. During the action of explosive devices from a close distance, physical manifestations of all factors of the explosion (explosive wave; high temperature; effects of debris and factors accompanying the explosion) took place on the bodies of the victims in the form massive tissue defects, including penetration into body cavities and traumatic amputations or crushing of limbs; melting and burning clothes and hair; numerous shrapnel wounds; applying soot on clothes, in wounds and body tissues along the course of wound channels; bright red color muscle tissue in wounds and along the course of wound channels. As the distance of the explosion increases, the number of traumatic factors decreases, and at a short distance, damage to biological objects occurs mainly due to fragments acting with high kinetic energy, while having a significant penetrating capacity.