Health Damage Assessment in Victims of Non-Lethal Kinetic Weapons

Abstract. The aim of the study was to assess the severity of health damage in victims of self-defense non-lethal kinetic weapons.

Materials and research methods. The medical records (form 003/u) of 67 victims of NKO who received medical care in the Arkhangelsk Regional Clinical Hospital in 2009-2019 were studied.

The degree of health damage severity was assessed according to the method approved by the order of the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development of April 24, 2008 № 194n. For multiple and combined injuries the degree of severity of the injury was determined according to the criterion which corresponded to a higher degree of severity.

Quantitative (mean values) and categorical (extensive values) variables were used for statistical analysis. Boundaries of their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the WinPepi program.

Results of the study and their analysis. Analysis of the study results showed:

– The damage to health of severe and moderate severity was detected in 34.3% of the victims with predominant wounds to head, neck, chest, and abdomen;

– In chest wounds, including those without penetrating wound channel, CT scanning is indicated from one to three days to diagnose lung contusion, which is not reliably visualized on an overview radiograph;

– In nonpenetrating abdominal wounds, damage to internal organs due to hydrodynamic shock is not excluded. In this case it is necessary to hospitalize victims for one or three days for clinical observation and ultrasound control. In doubtful cases diagnostic videolaparoscopy should be performed.