Wound ballistics for the civilian surgeon.

The management of gunshot wounds should include the following basic principles: The wound should be assessed by the treating physician in terms of the weapon which caused the injury, its caliber and its muzzle velocity. In addition, the range should be noted and whether the round was copper-jacketed as opposed to hollow-nosed or soft-pointed should be taken into consideration. Knowledge of these ballistic properties will enhance the treating physician's ability to diagnose more appropriately the extent of the damage and influence the therapeutic objectives. In addition, the information obtained will assist in prognosis, which can be related to the patient as well as those concerned with his or her outcome.