Citation

Smith ME, Zumwalt R. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2004; 25(1): 71-73.

Affiliation

Office of the Medical Investigator, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. msmith012670@hotmail.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15075693

Abstract

Occupational deaths due to projectiles from hand tools are rare. We report 2 unusual cases of individuals killed by metallic projectiles produced by the fragmentation of the head of a sledgehammer. At initial examination, these wounds appear similar to atypical gunshot or stab wounds. Proper evaluation requires radiographic examination, scene correlation, and, when possible, comparison of metallic fragments retrieved at autopsy and tools from the scene.

Language: en