FRACTURES AT THE BASE OF THE SKULL IN GUNSHOTS TO THE HEAD

The distribution of fractures at the base of the skull was investigate d in 147 victims with lethal head shot wounds caused by handguns or sm all calibre low-velocity rifles. In individuals without an impact of t he projectile at the base of the skull, bullets lodged in the head wer e found up to a calibre of 7.65 mm (pistol) or .38 special (revolver), respectively. In cases with a trajectory through the cranial fossae p ositive results were obtained up to 9 mm (pistol) or even .45 (revolve r). Fractures in anterior parts of the base of the skull were a rather frequent finding (82% of the cases) and could also be observed in vic tims shot by low energy guns. Fracture lines in particular in all cran ial fossae, however, indicate a comparatively high energy missile and were found in victims without a direct impact of the bullet at the bas e of the skull after the use of guns with a calibre of at least 7.65 m m. Severe fractures leading to a hinge-like mobility of the base of th e skull point also to projectiles of rather high energy. On the other hand, such fractures were also found in a victim with a contact shot b y a .22 rifle. Therefore, it must be emphasized that individual factor s such as the constitution of the base of the skull, the path of the b ullet, technical parameters of the gun and ammunition used are of grea t importance if conclusions are to be drawn on an unknown gun by evalu ation of fractures at the base of the skull. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevi er Science Ireland Ltd.