presentation includes types of explosive injuries & medico legal importance of explosive injuries to study in field of Forensic science

1. EXPLOSIVE INJURIES
BY-
E.Himasri Reddy

2. EXPLOSIVE INJURY (BLAST INJURY):-
DEFINITION:-
Is a complex type of physical trauma
resulting from direct or indirect
exposure to an explosion.

3. EXPLOSIONS:-
Can be –1.Natural
2.Chemical
3.Nuclear
4.Electrical
5.Magnetic
6.Domestic or 7.Mechanical.
In case of Medico-legal practice, the
most common are chemical whereas less
common are mechanical.
Terrorist bombings some times involves
dual explosions.

4. otherexplosions:-
Letter bomb
Molotov Cocktail
Booby trap

5. CLASSIFICATION OF
EXPLOSIVES:-
Can be done – by velocity propagation
1.High order explosives
2.Low order explosives
- by sensitivity
a)primary
b)secondary
c)tertiary explosives

6. • A low order explosives burns in a matter of
milliseconds & generates a pressure of about
6000 atm. Where as, high explosives rises the
pressure upto 2,75,000 atm.
• A low order explosive functions by
deflagration.
• A high order explosive functions by detonation.

7. BLAST WAVE:-
Dynamic over pressure.
Causes extensive damage to air filled
organs.
It has 3 different phases-
1.Positive phase pressure
2.Negative phase pressure
3.Blast wind
Injuries are mainly due to intial shock
wave, but they are aggravated based on
phases.
Intensity of an explosion declines as the
cube root of distance from an explosion

8. Blasts
Air blasts
Under water blasts
Solid blasts
SEP 3 2009 BELL430
APRIL17 2004 CESSANA 180
DGCA

9. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVE INJURIES:-
1.Primary blast injuries
2.Secondary blast injuries
3.Tertiary blast injuries
4. Miscellaneous /Quaternary blast
injuries
Primary blast injuries:-
-caused by direct effect of
blast over pressure.
-injuries are due to compressed air which
tends to effect the air filled organs

10. • Secondary blast injuries:-
Are due to flying objects generated by the actual
blast.
• Tertiary blast injuries:-
Occurs when victims are thrown into air & strike to
other objects

11. • Miscellaneous/ Quaternary injuries:-
-Injuries due to fire or collapse of buildings.
-Causes traumatic asphyxia & crush injuries.
Case Investigation
PENTTBOM;FBI
NIST
NEW YORK
SEP 11;2001

12. DISTRUPTIVE EFFECTS:-
• In immediate vicinity of explosion, the victims
body would be blown into pieces & some parts
of the body may be scattered over wide areas.
• When at a little distance away from the
explosion, the injuries may be limited to the
blowing off the head or a limb or mangling of
a localized area.

13. Assassination of former prime minister
Case investigated by CBI.SIT.
Assassinator-Dhanu
TrailunderTADAAct.

14. CAUSES OF DEATH:-
Pulmonary barotrauma {Blast Lung} is the most common fatal
primary blast injury.It includes conditions like pulmonary contusion,
systemic air embolism & free radical associated injuries.
ARDS- may be the result of direct lung injury during explosion /
shock from other organ system damage.
Falling derbis or due to haemorrhage
Burns
Crush syndrome
Traumatic asphyxia due to inhalation
Of combustion products
Delayed causes like septicaemia

15. MEDICO LEGAL IMPORTANCE:-
Accidental- {domestic LPG/pressure cookers}
Suicidal :- in case of suicidal bombers
JUNE 27 2014

16. Homicidal:-terrorist activities, passenger air craft explosions.
Operationblacktornado
26-29/Nov/2008
Mumbai terror
attacks
25 Aug 2007 Hyd {NECB}

17. Identification of dead assumes greater importance in mass
disasters
Blood tests for carboxyhaemoglobin, cyanides & phosphorous
may be necessary in closed space exposure or fire related
blasts
Radiological examination is also important in evaluating cause
of death.
Histopathology may help to detect ARDS,pulmonary contusion
or renal failure resulting from crush syndrome
Explosive residues are to be collected for subsequent
examination by expert in field of explosives

18. REFERENCES:-
• Anil Aggarwal
Text book of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
• V. V. Pillay
Text book of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
• K. S. Narayan Reddy
The synopsis of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
• Wikipedia.in.org
• Timesofindia.org/clipings