Expert: McEwen - 11/2/2009

Question
Hey--I am yet another writer asking about gun-shot wounds, which I know nothing about.

I have a character who, as currently written, suffers a gun-shot wound from a ricocheting bullet--through the left arm (no artery or bone damage), the bullet stops at her rib. Is this realistic?  (I don't know what type of gun.  I don't know if the bullet would actually stop at the rib.  Would the rib break?)

I'd like to know--presuming this is a realistic wound--

1. What the wound would look like,

2. How much blood would be lost,

3. What the character might feel phsycially at impact and after, if you know,

4. How the wound might be treated (I too thought alcohol and betadine, but have read here that might not be true!) How are bullets removed? Would her arm be in a sling?

5. What her range of motion might be 24-72 hours after.  In the story she is athletic and needs to be back on her feet soon, but I want to have some idea what is really possible--for instance, could she run at all 72 hours later?  Could she go in the ocean?  Would she be able to lift her un-harmed arm over her head?

6.  If this is a survivable wound if she gets no medical treatment.

Thanks for answering any of this that you can!

Diana


Answer
Hi, I have placed the answers throughout your email beside your questions.  I hope I didn't miss anything.  Hope it helps!!

I have a character who, as currently written, suffers a gun-shot wound from a ricocheting bullet--through the left arm (no artery or bone damage), the bullet stops at her rib. Is this realistic?  (I don't know what type of gun.  I don't know if the bullet would actually stop at the rib.  Would the rib break?)THIS DEPENDS ON THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE RICOCHETING AND THE VICTIM AND WHERE ABOUTS ON THE ARM THE CHARACTER WOULD BE HIT.  THE MORE MUSCLE, THE LESS LIKELY IT WOULD BE A 'THROUGH AND THROUGH' VS LESS MUSCLE.

I'd like to know--presuming this is a realistic wound--

1. What the wound would look like,
IMAGES ARE GREAT ON GOOGLE.  YOU WILL HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF APPEARANCES TO CHOOSE FROM.

2. How much blood would be lost,
THERE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT BLOOD LOSS, HOWEVER, IT COULD BE INTERNAL BLEEDING THAT IS NOT VISIBLE.

3. What the character might feel phsycially at impact and after, if you know,
SIGNS OF SHOCK, POSSIBLY TROUBLE BREATHING, SWELLING, DISCOLOURATION, PAIN.

4. How the wound might be treated (I too thought alcohol and betadine, but have read here that might not be true!) How are bullets removed? Would her arm be in a sling?
http://firstaid.about.com/od/softtissueinjuries/ht/07_gunshots.htm

5. What her range of motion might be 24-72 hours after.  In the story she is athletic and needs to be back on her feet soon, but I want to have some idea what is really possible--for instance, could she run at all 72 hours later?  I WOULDNT THINK SO.  Could she go in the ocean?  NOPE Would she be able to lift her un-harmed arm over her head? OF COURSE... NO EFFECT HERE.

6.  If this is a survivable wound if she gets no medical treatment.
DEPENDS ON THE EXTENT OF INTERNAL INJURIES AND BLOOD LOSS.