Atypical Missile Wound From an Improvised Firecracker Buster Pipe: A Case Report

Dead body of a 17 year old boy was brought for medico-legal autopsy with a history of collapse and sudden death while bursting a jute twine (sutli) bomb contained in an iron pipe during a religious procession. Upon noticing an apparent stab injury on chest, a case of homicide was registered by the police. During autopsy, a penetrating wound, with irregular margins was noted on right side of chest and a circular metal plate was found embedded in right lung and right atrium of heart with a huge hemothorax. The metal plate corresponded to the back end of the iron pipe that housed the bomb while bursting. It was concluded that the wound was an accidental missile wound caused by bomb blast within the pipe. Such atypical missile wounds are not frequently reported, highlighting the fatal potential of such commonly used firecrackers and is of concern to the autopsy surgeon as the injury mimics a stab wound.