Adverse events in identifying Hoffmans star-like pattern in gunshot wounds

Introduction: Wounds produced by a firearm bullet with the muzzle of the gun pressed against the body where the skin is supported by underlying bone result in a star-like or stellate lesion, with irregular borders. Their incorrect analysis leads to a wrong identification of the entrance wound. Objectives: To highlight the importance of continuing education in legal medicine included in the medical curriculum. Material and Method: Anonymous evaluation carried out with 28 doctors graduated less than 5 years ago. Each of them has seven (7) photographs showing gunshot wounds, of which two explicitly showed the stellate pattern, and closed questions on them. Results: Out of the 196 items of the series, 125 (63.77%) were correctly identified whether or not it was an entrance wound. Out of the 56 items showing the stellate pattern, only 26 (46%) of the cases were correctly identified (Graphic 2). The remaining 30 cases, in which the star-like pattern was not identified, were wrongly listed as exit wounds. Conclusions: The stellate pattern is characterized by an irregular, star-like lesion, with serrated edges, as a result of the gases produced by the deflagration of the gunpowder reflecting on the underlying bone surface. Due to its morphology, it can mimic exit wounds.