• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Ballistic impact on a soldier wearing a helmet can induce fatal injury, even if the helmet is not penetrated. Although studies on this type of injury have been performed, most of them have used an analytical model focused on head injury only. The injury of the neck muscles and cervical vertebrae by non-penetrating ballistic impact affects the survivability of soldiers, despite not inflicting fatal injury to the human body. Therefore, an analytical model of the head and neck muscles are necessary. In this study, an analysis of human body injury using the previously developed head model, as well as a cervical model with muscles, was performed. For the quantitative prediction of injury, the stress, strain, and HIC were compared. The results from the model including the cervical system indicated a lower extent of injury than the results from the model excluding them. The results of head injury were compared with other references for reliability.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.421-424
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• 2023

This case report presents the case of a 49-year-old man who presented to our level I trauma center after sustaining injuries in an altercation with local law enforcement in which he was shot with a less lethal bean bag and tased. In a primary survey, a penetrating left supraclavicular wound was noted in addition to a taser dart lodged in his flank. No other traumatic findings were noted in a secondary survey. Given hemodynamic stability, completion imaging was obtained, revealing a foreign body in the left lung, a left open clavicle fracture, a C5 tubercle fracture, a possible grade I left vertebral injury, and a left first rib fracture. Soft tissue gas was seen around the left subclavian and axillary arteries, although no definitive arterial injury was identified. The bean bag projectile was embedded in the parenchyma of the left lung on cross-sectional imaging. The patient underwent thoracotomy for removal of the projectile and hemostasis. A thoracotomy was chosen as the operative approach due to concerns about significant bleeding upon foreign body removal. A chest tube was placed and subsequently removed on postoperative day 5. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7. At a 2-week outpatient follow-up visit, the patient was doing well. This case report is the first to describe this outcome for a drag-stabilized bean bag. Although law enforcement officers utilize bean bag projectiles as a "less lethal" means of crowd control and protection, these ballistics pose significant risk and can result in serious injury.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2024

Background: Gunshot-related fractures near the elbow are challenging, and available data to guide the practitioner are lacking. This report analyzes injury patterns and treatment strategies in a case series from a high-volume urban trauma center. Methods: All periarticular gunshot fractures near the elbow treated at a level 1 trauma center from 2014 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Fracture location, patient demographics, concomitant injuries, treatment modalities, and complications were analyzed. Results: Twenty-four patients were identified. All patients received prophylactic antibiotics upon admission and underwent urgent surgical debridement. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was performed with initial debridement in 22 of 24 patients. Seven patients sustained distal humerus fractures, 10 patients sustained isolated proximal ulna or proximal radius fractures, and seven had combined fracture patterns. Eleven patients presented with nerve palsy, and two had transected nerves. Two patients had vascular injury requiring repair. One patient required a temporary elbow-spanning external fixator and underwent staged debridement followed by ORIF. One patient with a grade IIIC fracture developed a deep infection that precluded ORIF. One patient required revision ORIF due to fracture displacement. Conclusions: This investigation reports on management of ballistic fractures near the elbow at a busy urban level I trauma center. Our management centered on rapid debridement, early definitive fixation, and intravenous antibiotic administration. We report on associated neurovascular injury, bone loss, and other challenges in this patient population. Level of evidence: IV.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2017

The network analysis method has emerged as a new methodology for various disciplines, due to its ability to provide a representative knowledge network of references, co-authors and keywords. Bulletproof technology is an interdisciplinary field involving various disciplines, such as material mechanics, structural mechanics, and ballistics, so it is essential to keep up with the recent trends in technological research. In this research, the recent R&D trends in the field of bulletproof materials were analyzed using keyword based network analysis. From the results, the core keywords were identified as 'Composite', 'Model' and 'Head' using the scholar search engine, google scholar. The centrality analysis for the core keywords showed that bulletproof technology has developed in 3 different areas, viz. material, structure and effects. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of (network analysis?) to bulletproof technology. Moreover, we are also convinced that the results of this study will be useful for defense technology planning and determining the direction of R&D in the field of bulletproof technology.