Medicine
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/12
This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
Browse
14 results
Search Results
Item A Forensic-based study on low angled AK rifle bullet entry wounds using a porcine model(Elsevier, 2020) Nishshanka, M.B.; Paranitharan, P.; Shepherd, C.ABSTRACT:An entry wound normally carries more macroscopic evidence than found in exit wounds. In addition to common wound characteristics of an entry wound such as an abrasion collar, burn marks etc., large amounts of trace evidences from the bullet and gun such as gunshot residues, powder tattoo, grease ring (bullet wipe) etc., are also present in entry wounds making them a richer source of evidence than exit wounds. This forensic-based study explores the low-angled entry wound characteristics of AK rifle bullets (7,62 mm × 39 mm) on porcine skin. This demonstrated a special entry wound characteristic similar to the commonly reported "abrasion ring" but differs in structure with an abraded area around the entry wounds and more significantly damaged outer margins. A significant inverse relationship between the AK bullet's approaching angle and the length of the external entry wound has also been reported in this work, with each finding contributing new knowledge to the forensic pathology of gunshot wounds. The findings of this study also have the potential to aid in shooting incident reconstructions. KEYWORDS: Gunshot wounds; Low angled entry wounds; Porcine skin; Rifle entry wounds; Wound ballistics.Item Forensic based empirical study on ricochet behaviour of Kalashnikov bullets (7.62mm×39mm) on 1mm sheet metal(Elsevier, 2020) Nishshanka, B.; Shepherd, C.; Paranitharan, P.ABSTRACT: Bullet ricochet off a surface in a shooting scene occurs in diverse conditions and affected by array of factors. Therefore ricochet analysis of a particular incident demands case by case analysis supported by the knowledge of existing subject knowledge and empirical testing. In this view, existing empirical test results on bullet ricochet experiments have become always assisted and referred by investigators during scene reconstruction and in Courts. This forensic based research was aimed to understand the ricochet behaviour and related aspects of Kalashnikov bullets (7.62mm×39mm) on 1mm sheet metal. 1mm sheet metal was selected as the target surface of the study, based on its greater possibility of existing in concurrent urban environments as vehicle bodies, electrical appliances, road signs, boundary walls, partitions, walls of mobile houses etc. The research added brand new knowledge to the firearm investigation field in general and specifically to AK shooting investigations and scene reconstruction. The ricochet angles and critical angle of 1mm sheet metal and AK bullets, relationship of different impact feathers and angle of incidences are some of the main findings of the research. The double head impact mark which produces as a result of bullet's interaction with the target and it's specific relationships with the incident angles is the other most important results of the research which has not reported so far in a bullet ricochet study. In addition to the contribution of knowledge to the field of forensic sciences in general and forensic ballistic in particular, this research further emphasises the need for case by case empirical study to understand the ricochet behaviour of different bullet and target combinations. On the other hand, this study very deeply convinced firearms investigators on the risk of applying general bullet ricochet theory on yielding and nonyielding surfaces to reconstruct all bullet ricochet incidents which would result in wrong interpretations, critical errors in shooting scene reconstruction and finally for false testimonies. KEYWORDS: 1mm sheet metal; 7.62×39mm AK; Bullet; Bullet ricochet; Forensic ballistics; Shooting incident reconstruction.Item A retrospective descriptive study on homicides and injuries to the lower extremities(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Paranitharan, P.; Abeyrathna, A.A.R.M.; Mendis, H.K.N.L.P.; Perera, W.N.S.BACKGROUND: Homicidal deaths result from various causes and usually involve fatal injuries. The lower extremities may sustain injuries due to an assault, fall and in some instances due to self-defense. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of the study was to describe the different types of injuries sustained by the lower extremities following homicidal deaths and analyze the different injuries and injury patterns sustained. METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study. Sixty eight homicidal deaths from the case load of the investigators for the past fifteen years were documented based on a pro-forma. The data was analyzed using a SPSS statistical package. RESULTS: Sharp force (38.2%), firearm (38.2%), blunt force (11.8%) and asphyxia (8.8%) were the main modes of homicide. In 50% of cases, the lower extremities were not involved and the rest were with either involvement of single (36.8%) or both extremities (13.2%). The lower extremities alone was involved on one occasion. In majority of instances, the injuries were sustained as a combination with other parts of the body such as upper and lower extremities (13.24%), head and lower extremities (13.24%) and chest and lower extremities (10.29%). In the lower extremities most of the injuries were on the region of thighs: right 47.83% and left 30.00%. A higher proportion (48.84%) of injuries were abrasions. CONCLUSIONS: The lower extremities were involved in 50% of the homicidal deaths. In most instances the thigh was involved. Assaults (45.16%) and falls (32.26%) were the main causes of trauma for lower extremities.Item Elder abuse among out patient department attendees in a tertiary hospital(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2009) Edirisinghe, P.A.S.; Paranitharan, P.; Perera, W.N.S.; Shehan, W.BACKGROUND: Abuse of older people is a hidden problem in society. Older people are frightened or embarrassed to report its presence. The extent of the problem is not studied adequately in Sri Lanka. METHODS: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted at the North Colombo Teaching Hospital, outpatient department on 530 consecutive adults over 60 years of age. The Hwalek-Sengstock Elder abuse screening test which was assessed for face validity and content validity among 50 older persons and modified, was used for data collection along with a brief demographic questionnaire. Those with a mini-mental state examination score of 23 or less were excluded from the study. Data was collected by trained medical officers after informed written consent from the subjects. Confidentiality of the information provided was assured. RESULTS: 348 females (65%) and 182 males (35%) were included in the study. The mean age was 68.5 years. 26 (5.6%) reported physical abuse of whom 14 (2.6%) had been struck, slapped or kicked and five had received medical attention for injuries. Three had made a Police complaint. Up to 136 (25%) had perceived emotional abuse. 53 (10%) had experienced derogatory remarks and 12 (2. 3%) had been threatened with punishment and institutionalisation. 20 (3.7%) claimed neglect and 116 (22%) claimed their caregiver was financially dependent on them. There was no significant difference among the sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Physical, emotional and financial abuse of elders is present in our study population. The numbers although small, may represent only the tip of the iceberg.Item A Study on detainees: effects of war on health and rights(2013) Warushahennadi, J.; Perera, W.N.S.; Paranitharan, P.The recently concluded 'war' in Sri Lanka has cost thousands of lives and disabled many people. A proportion of the disabled people and some able men and women are still languishing in detention centers awaiting retribution for their suspected crimes. Since most of them are “hardcore LTTE cadres”, 'human rights' activists keep continuous vigil on them to see whether they are maltreated. Medico-legal examinations are routinely performed on them in the following occasions, immediately after taking into custody, prior to release into the community and before and after confession. A retrospective study was carried out on 50 cases by reviewing Medico Legal documents of detainees who have been referred for medico legal examination. Out of 50 cases analyzed majority (98%) of the detainees were young males with mean age of 35 ½ years and from the Northern Province. Most of them had participated in war (74%) and having consequences of war related injuries. 94 % of them were detained for more than 3 months in the detention camp and almost all of them didn't declare ill treatment during their detention. There were no convicted individuals in the sample population. There are severe effects of war injuries on detainees such as amputated extremities (4%), post traumatic epilepsy (10%) and multiple scars following shrapnel or firearm injuries (58%). They do not complain on mal treatment while in detention. However due process of trial is needed as early as possible to safeguard their rights.Item Sri Lanka Police Service a force to be reckoned with pride; view of a Forensic Pathologist(2013) Paranitharan, P.; Hulathduwa, S.R.No Abstract AvailableItem The role of the Armanni-Ebstein lesion, hepatic steatosis, biochemical analysis and second generation anti-psychotic drugs in fatal diabetic ketoacidosis(Elsevier, 2013) Kodikara, S.; Paranitharan, P.; Pollanen, M.S.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute severe complication of diabetes and characterized by a complex disordered metabolic state due to an absolute or relative insulin deficiency, leads to hyperglycaemia, ketoacidosis and ketonuria. DKA can cause sudden unexpected death and often yields minimal and/or subtle autopsy findings or a negative autopsy and the diagnosis mainly depends upon biochemical analysis of body fluids. This communication highlights the role of Armanni-Ebstein lesion, hepatic steatosis, biochemical analysis and second generation anti-psychotic drugs in 25 adult cases of fatal diabetic ketoacidosis. The study recognises and reconfirms that fatal DKA occurs in both type I and II diabetes. The macroscopic autopsy features observed in this study are non-specific and do not guide the pathologist towards the diagnosis offatal DKA. Once other possibilities have been excluded, the Armanni-Ebstein lesion alone or the combination of hepatic steatosis andArmanni-Ebstein lesion in an otherwise negative autopsy of a sudden unexpected death should raise the suspicion of DKA as the cause of death and indicate biochemical analysis of body fluids. Our findings also remind forensic pathologists to search for fatal DKA in sudden unexpected death with a negative autopsy, where there is a history of second generation anti-psychotic treatment. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.Item Do the print media help the medical science? An analysis of forensic related contents in newspaper articles(2012) Paranitharan, P.; Perera, W.N.S.; Ranantunge, I.D.J.; Ratnayake, W.R.A.D.T.D.General public get a considerable amount of information about medical science related topics from the media. Communicating with the public through the media can be vexing for medical professionals because they lack direct control over the final reporting1.It is the reporter's view of the information and his or her words that reach the public, rather than the scientist's or the clinician's. Moreover, there is a mismatch between the expectations of the scientist and those of the reporter. Scientists expect journalists to share their concern with scientific norms relating to the provisional nature of scientific knowledge and recognition of the collegial nature of scientific endeavour2. However sub specialty such as in forensics there are diverse concerns about published material in the print media. Issues are more or less the same in other specialties as well.Item A Maternal death due to an illegal abortion(Faculty of Medicine,University of Peradeniya, 2011) Perera, W.N.S.; Paranitharan, P.Item Utility of postmortem vitreous biochemistry(Faculty of Medicine,University of Peradeniya, 2011) Paranitharan, P.; Pollanen, M. S.