Hemopneumothorax following penetrating thoracic gunshot wound: a case report

In a nation such as Indonesia, characterized by rigorous regulations that prohibit the acquisition, sale, possession, or storage of firearms, the incidence of fatalities attributable to firearms is relatively low. To lawfully possess a firearm, an individual must have a valid license. An analysis of the unique characteristics of firearm injuries can facilitate the identification of the specific type of firearm employed, the distance from which the shot was discharged, the position of the victim at the time of the incident, and whether the cause of death was deliberate, self-inflicted, or accidental. Gunshot injuries require careful scrutiny by the attending medical professional as the intrinsic irregularities can significantly contribute to the investigative process and the reconstruction of the event.

This article describes a case of a gunshot wound of the chest leading to hemopneumothorax and a fatal outcome. The shot was fired from a homemade revolver at close range. Such firearms are common in certain regions of Indonesia, where access to factory-made weapons is limited. During the examination, a pioneering effort for assessing the results of autopsy and investigating firearm-related injuries that was innovative for the district of Merangin (province of Jambi, Indonesia) was used.

This case allows both to deepen the understanding of firearm-related injuries within a localized framework and to provide a medicolegal analysis of these findings.