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An Experimental Study of High and Low Velocity Missile Wounds

MAJ Joseph J. Amato, MC, USA; CPT Lawrence J. Billy, MC, USA; CPT Ronald P. Gruber, MC, USA; MAJ Noel S. Lawson, MC, USA; Edgewood Arsenal, Md; LTC Norman M. Rich, MC, USA

AMA Arch Surg. 1970;101(2):167-174.

Abstract
In order to design procedures for adequate repair of vascular injury, we have conducted a study of arterial trauma caused by high velocity missiles. This report is concerned with the mechanism of arterial injury in ballistic wounds. The femoral arteries of anesthetized dogs were injured with missiles accurately calibrated at velocities of 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 feet per second. The technique included angiograms of vessels at the moment of impact. High speed photographs demonstrated the sequential course of mechanical disruption with low and high velocity missiles. We have shown that the high velocity missile neatly shears the blood vessel wall at moment of impact. However, additional damage to the arterial wall, both gross and microscopic, is caused within 5µ to 10µ sec by the formation of the temporary cavity.

Author Affiliations
Washington, DC

From the Biomedical Department, Biophysics Laboratory, US Edgewood Arsenal, Md (Drs. Amato, Billy, Gruber, and Lawson), Army Medical Center, Washington, DC (Dr. Rich).

Footnotes
Submitted for publication March 4, 1970.

Read before the 27th annual meeting of the Central Surgical Association, Detroit, Feb 27, 1970.

Reprint requests to Peripheral Vascular Surgery Section, Department of Surgery, Walter Reed General Hospital, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20012 (Dr. Rich).

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