Ballistic Injury - Penetrated into Brain Parenchyma

A penetrating firearm injury occurs when a projectile enters the cranial cavity and traverses or lodges within the brain parenchyma. Tissue damage results from the projectile's direct path, temporary cavitation, pressure effects, hemorrhage, and secondary bone fragments driven into the brain. The wound track may show contusion, laceration and intracranial bleeding. Forensic examination should document the entry and exit wounds, wound track, projectile or fragments, associated skull fractures and intracranial injuries, as these findings help reconstruct the direction and trajectory of fire and determine the cause of death.