Pattern of rubber bullet injuries in the lower limbs: A report from Kashmir

We investigated the effect of the use of less-lethal weapons, conductive energy devices (CEDs), and oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray on the prevalence and incidence of injuries to police officers and civilians in encounters involving the use of force.

Wounds caused by firearms are a frequent occurrence in urban emergency centers. Understanding of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in wound production is very important in treatment of these injuries. Part I of this article reports studies on the interaction of projectiles with both the atmosphere and human tissue to produce wounds. Part II will examine the types of wounds formed by specific firearms, and the recent innovations in both weapons and ammunition which are altering the severity of shooting injuries.

The injuries sustained by 99 people struck by plastic bullets, were compared with those sustained by 90 people struck by rubber bullets. Plastic bullets struck the head and chest less often than rubber bullets and caused fewer serious injuries to the face and chest, but tended to cause more serious skull and brain injuries.