Forensic characteristics of injuries sustained during the explosion of defensive grenades

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The forensic examination of explosive injuries caused by fragmentation hand grenades is currently of particular interest because of high incidence and the lack of differential diagnostic criteria.

AIM: To examine the morphological characteristics of injuries associated with the detonation of defensive fragmentation hand grenades F-1 and RGO.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted by visual assessments and measurements, along with observation, comparison, generalization, and systematization of the results obtained. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were performed using a Hitachi FlexSem1000 II scanning electron microscope and a Bruker Quantax 80 energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer for microstructural analysis.

RESULTS: A detailed morphology of the explosive injury caused by the most commonly used defensive fragmentation hand grenades at varying distances was analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS: The established morphological characteristics of the explosive injury caused by F-1 and RGO fragmentation hand grenades suggest that the type of grenade and the distance to the explosion epicenter can be reliably determined by the pattern of soot deposition, the number and morphology of tissue and biological object injuries. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed the typical chemical composition of the damaging elements.

About the authors

Vera A. Kuzmina

Chief State Center for Forensic Medicine and Forensic Expertise 111

Email: kuzminava@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0694-673X
SPIN-code: 1167-4112

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, 3 Hospital sq, Moscow,105094

Sergey V. Leonov

Chief State Center for Forensic Medicine and Forensic Expertise 111; Russian University of Medicine

Author for correspondence.
Email: sleonoff@inbox.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4228-8973
SPIN-code: 2326-2920

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, 3 Hospital sq, Moscow,105094; Moscow

Pavel V. Pinchuk

Chief State Center for Forensic Medicine and Forensic Expertise 111; The Russian National Research Medical University named after N.I. Pirogov

Email: pinchuk1967@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0223-2433
SPIN-code: 7357-3038

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, 3 Hospital sq, Moscow,105094; Moscow

Airat A. Khalikov

Bashkir State Medical University

Email: airat.expert@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1045-5677
SPIN-code: 1895-7300

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, Ufa

References

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  2. Evdokimov VI, Sivashchenko PP, Ivanov VV, Khominets VV. Medical and statistical indicators of injuries among contract military personnel (privates, sergeants and foreman) in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (2003–2019). Medicо-Biological and Socio-Psychological Problems of Safety in Emergency Situations. 2020;(4):87–104. doi: 10.25016/2541-7487-2020-0-4-87-104 EDN: DTBBDJ
  3. Pigolkin YuI, editor. Forensic medicine and forensic medical examination: national guidelines. Moscow: GEOTAR-Media; 2024. (In Russ.) doi: 10.33029/9704-8267-4-FME-2024-1-784
  4. Kuzmina VA, Pinchuk PV, Leonov SV, Vereskunov AM. Forensic medical characteristics of injuries caused by damaging factors during the explosion of hand fragmentation grenades F-1, RGD-5, RGN. In: Proceedings of the X Anniversary International Congress “Current issues of forensic medicine and expert practice — 2023”. Moscow, 2023 Apr 19–20. Moscow: FME Association; 2023. P. 148–151. (In Russ.)
  5. Kuzmina VA, Leonov SV, Pinchuk PV, et al. Forensic characteristic of damages caused by offensive grenades detonation. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2024;67(4):31–36. doi: 10.17116/sudmed20246704131 EDN: BVJXDU
  6. Kuzmina VA, Leonov SV, Pinchuk PV. Morphological features of damage caused by the explosion of hand fragmentation grenades F-1. In: Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference “Forensic medicine: history and modernity (on the 225th anniversary of the formation of the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Military Medical Academy)”. St. Petersburg, 2024 Mar 15. P. 62–65. EDN: IYDTPJ
  7. Dildin YuM, Martynov VV, Semenov AYu, Shmyrev AA. Explosive devices of industrial manufacture and their forensic investigation: a study guide. Moscow; 1991. (In Russ).

Supplementary files

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1. JATS XML
2. Fig. 1. A view of cotton fabric and fragments of a human body simulator during a contact explosion of F-1 (a) and RGO (b).

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3. Fig. 2. View of fragments from F-1 and RGO grenades: a — fragments extracted from a biological simulator of the human body after the explosion of F-1 grenade at a distance of 20 cm from the target; b — fragments extracted from a biological target after the contact explosion of RGO grenade.

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4. Fig. 3. A type of biological simulator of the human body: а — when an F-1 grenade explodes at a distance of 50 cm; b — when an RGO grenade explodes at a distance of 100 сm.

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