Gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen when using modern body armor

Abstract

Based on the analysis of literary sources and the data of our own experimental studies, we examined the features of gunshot wounds of military personnel protected by body armor. The classification of body armor by design is given. In addition, the gradation of body armor according to the protection class according to GOST 34286-2017 is given. It is shown that the widespread use of body armor in modern armed conflicts has led to a noticeable decrease in the frequency of gunshot wounds to the chest. According to the mechanism of the formation of a gunshot injury through a bulletproof vest, three main types of injuries were identified: closed local contusion injury when the bulletproof vest was not broken; a gunshot wound when piercing a bulletproof vest; gunshot wounds due to ricocheting of striking elements from the surface of the body armor (external or internal ricochet). It has been established that closed trauma in case of bulletproof vest penetration can occur both in the form of damage to the skin and subcutaneous tissue with the formation of hemorrhages, and in the form of bruises of internal organs, accompanied in severe cases by ruptures of internal organs (liver, spleen, lungs, etc.), with development life- threatening complications - intense pneumothorax, intra-abdominal bleeding, etc. It is shown that when piercing a bulletproof vest through the wound, in addition to a deformed bullet and clothing elements, fragments of armor can be introduced lei with additional damage. When bullets approach a bulletproof vest at angles of 20 degrees or more, rebound elements of dismantled bullets can occur, which can cause severe damage to both the owner of the bulletproof vest and others.