EXPERIMENTAL ARROW WOUNDS - BALLISTICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY

Objective: To provide information on the ballistics and the wounding p otential of different arrows or bolts fired from different weapons and to investigate the suitability of simulant media for experimental arr ow wounds. Methods: A longbow, a compound bow, and a crossbow were use d to fire a variety of modern and ancient arrows. Fresh corpses of fou r adult pigs (47 shots) and blocks of gelatin and soap (48 shots) were used as target media, and the resulting wound tracts were examined. T he range of fire was 8 m and the velocity was recorded at a distance o f 3 m (and 16 m in additional shots) by light screen devices. Results: The mean velocities recorded ranged from 45 m/s (longbow) to 67 m/s ( compound bow). The excellent exterior ballistics of arrows results in only a small initial decrease in velocity of 0.10 to 0.18 m.s(-1).m(-1 ). The penetration depths were reproducible for the same arrowhead fir ed into the same simulant medium but differed considerably when compar ed with those in soft tissue. In nonbone tissue, the penetration depth was substantial (17-60 cm) and depended on velocity and especially on the type of arrowhead. All arrows penetrated deeply into the large bo dy cavities and injured organs as long as no thick bone had to be perf orated. Flat bones such as ribs were always perforated. Extraction of arrowheads from thick bone proved to be difficult in some cases. The w ounding mechanism was a combination of incision and puncture, which fa cilitated deep penetration of tissue and produced clean-cut wounds. Co nclusion: Gelatin and soap are not suitable for experimental arrow wou nds, Every arrow wound carries a lethal potential. The severity of the wound depends primarily on the target area and the type of arrowhead. Extraction of arrowheads from thick bone has to be performed carefull y.