Bullet injuries are often called “Gun Shot Wounds”. While this term refers to the outside skin disruption that results from a bullet piercing the skin, it does not describe the trajectory and damage caused by the bullet. Bullet injury refers to the injury caused by a bullet piercing the body at any level, and takes into account how deep the bullet penetrates as well as whether or not a bullet is left behind (retained bullet/fragment). In this way a better assessment of the impact of the bullet is possible. Each level of injury brings with it unique concerns.

SKIN injuries can act like rug burns or paper cuts, causing severe pain and burning
FAT injuries can create a large amount of inflammation and swelling.
MUSCLE injuries can be associated with cramps and spasms.
BONE injuries can create severe constant pain

Injuries at any level can also be associated with nerve injuries that cause numbness, burning, or severe sensitivity.