Forensic characteristics of injuries sustained during the explosion of defensive grenades

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.