Quick Takes.....
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's injuries: When and how were they caused?
by B Blake
December 22nd 2013
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was arrested after he was found hiding in a boat in a Watertown back garden. Initial reports stated he was 'clinging to life' and had lost so much blood that he would likely have died had he not been discovered by the boat's owner, David Hennerberry. But when and how did he receive the life threatening injuries?
In order to escape the Watertown shoot-out Tsarnaev allegedly drove a vehicle, abandoned that vehicle, climbed over a fence, and ran through several back gardens whilst being chased on foot by police. He was fast enough to lose his pursuers, then manually haul himself up and over the side of Hennerberry's boat (there was no ladder available to him at the time).
Initial news reports suggested David Hennerberry discovered Tsarnaev after noticing blood on the outside of the boat and that the retention strap to the boat's covering that had been cut. However, one element of these reports proved false: Hennerberry confirmed in later interviews that he saw no blood on the outside of the boat and only saw blood when he looked under the covering where he 'noticed blood splattered on the deck'.
This would seem to indicate that although injured, Tsarnaev was still in fair condition when he climbed into Henerberry's boat.
Initial news reports suggested David Hennerberry discovered Tsarnaev after noticing blood on the outside of the boat and that the retention strap to the boat's covering that had been cut. However, one element of these reports proved false: Hennerberry confirmed in later interviews that he saw no blood on the outside of the boat and only saw blood when he looked under the covering where he 'noticed blood splattered on the deck'.
This would seem to indicate that although injured, Tsarnaev was still in fair condition when he climbed into Henerberry's boat.
Medical reports
There are only two 'official' sources of information that refer specifically to the injuries Tsarnaev incurred: a transcript from his first bedside court appearance and a medical report sent to Tsarnaev's mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaev, after she spent several months requesting it.
Statement by Dr Stephen Odom, at the first court appearance (04/22/2013):
Statement by Dr Stephen Odom, at the first court appearance (04/22/2013):
"He has multiple gun shot wounds, the most severe of which appears to have entered through the left side inside of his mouth and exited the left face, lower face. This was a high powered injury that has resulted in skull base fracture with injuries to the middle ear, the skull base, the lateral portion of his C1 vertebrae, with a significant soft tissue injury, as well as injury to the pharynx, the mouth, and a small vascular injury that's been treated.
He has, in addition to this, some ophthalmologic injuries that have been treated.
He has multiple gun shot wounds to the extremities that have been treated with dressings to the lower extremities, and in the case of his left hand, he had multiple bony injuries as well that were treated with fixation and soft tissue coverage, as well as tendon repair and vascular ligation. The pins are internal but the wound is still open"
Dr Stephen Odom April 22nd 2013
He has, in addition to this, some ophthalmologic injuries that have been treated.
He has multiple gun shot wounds to the extremities that have been treated with dressings to the lower extremities, and in the case of his left hand, he had multiple bony injuries as well that were treated with fixation and soft tissue coverage, as well as tendon repair and vascular ligation. The pins are internal but the wound is still open"
Dr Stephen Odom April 22nd 2013
On June 27th 2013 Russian newspaper Izvestia described Tsarnaev's injuries in more detail, citing the medical report that had been made available to his mother. The translation for Russian to English is lacking, although it is still possible to understand the severity of the injuries.
Izvestia notes:
Izvestia notes:
"...doctors found on the body of 19-year-old Johar who was wounded during the arrest: 16 bullet and stab wounds. As a result, it is completely deaf in his left ear and almost never sees the left eye. Due to a bullet wound in the neck Tsarnaev has deformed the entire left side of the face. The bullet pierced his neck, tore his left cheek and shattered skull. Also on the body Tsarnaeva found numerous wounds inflicted with a knife. Because of the bullet wound now he covered his left eye and he can not hear the left ear. He had a fragmented jaw doctors had collected again, like a puzzle. Stab wounds begin at the top of the neck and ends at the collarbone. Also, there were numerous wounds on his left arm, both legs and in the upper back"
Most severe injury: shot inside the mouth
The skull base and C1 vertebra (highlighted) are pictured to the left. The most typical symptoms of a skull base fracture are pain, blurred vision, deafness, problems with balance, and, in certain fractures, fluid leaking from the nose or ears or bruises behind the ears or around the eyes.
The c1 is responsible for the nodding movements (backwards and forwards) and rotational (side to side and circling) movements of the head. The lateral masses (referred to by Dr Odom) are the most bulky and solid parts of the C1 vertebra, as they support the full weight of the head.
Depending on the severity of the injury, an individual suffering a C1 fracture would find it extremely difficult, if not impossible to make normal movements of the head.
The c1 is responsible for the nodding movements (backwards and forwards) and rotational (side to side and circling) movements of the head. The lateral masses (referred to by Dr Odom) are the most bulky and solid parts of the C1 vertebra, as they support the full weight of the head.
Depending on the severity of the injury, an individual suffering a C1 fracture would find it extremely difficult, if not impossible to make normal movements of the head.
Head Movements
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's different head movements, at various points during his surrender.
Looking up, head to the right
Looking down, head to the left
Looking down
Normal position
Whilst Tsarnaev appeared to be bleeding heavily from the ear area (sometimes consistent with a skull base fracture) he clearly had no problem moving his head in any direction he so wished, which directly conflicts with a fracture of the lateral C1 vertebra.
The neck injury
Dr Odom did not refer to Tsarnaev suffering a neck injury, although Izvestia (citing a separate medical report), did. This seems odd as he clearly suffered a severe slash type injury to the neck, that ran from behind his ear down towards the collar bone.
Tsarnaev in hospital, treated neck wound visable
It was present after Tsarnaev exited the boat and was on the ground receiving treatment at the scene:
Tsarnaev's neck injury, referred to by Izvestia as a 'knife wound'
However, it did not appear to be present whilst Tsarnaev was still in the boat. There is no indication of any bleeding in the specific area where he sustained the injury, either on the neck or on the clothing beneath area.
When and how?
The evidence suggests Dzhokhar Tsarnaev suffered the majority of his injuries whilst unarmed, and hiding in the boat.
He was allegedly able to drive a vehicle away from the shoot-out, climb a fence, run through gardens and pull himself up and into the boat (whilst leaving no trace of blood on the outside): if he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to both legs, a shattered hand, a C1 and skull base fracture, such a feat would have proven virtually impossible.
He was allegedly able to drive a vehicle away from the shoot-out, climb a fence, run through gardens and pull himself up and into the boat (whilst leaving no trace of blood on the outside): if he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to both legs, a shattered hand, a C1 and skull base fracture, such a feat would have proven virtually impossible.
Once inside the boat, over two hundred rounds of ammunition were directed at it whilst Tsarnaev lay positioned behind an electrical box. The majority of his injuries were to the extremities (none to the torso), which is consistent with his positioning inside the boat.
However, he also suffered a shot to the head which originated inside the mouth exiting the left face, which is not consistent with his positioning inside the boat. The descriptions of the result of this particular injury (injuries to the middle ear/permanent deafness/blindness in one eye, etc.) indicate that he would likely have experienced significant problems with balance, difficulty following instructions etc., none of which he appeared to exhibit whilst still inside the boat.
Furthermore, he sustained a severe slash to the side of his neck, which did not appear to be present whilst he was still in the boat.
Under such circumstances, this seems a reasonable question to ask: Exactly when and how did Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sustain those injuries?
However, he also suffered a shot to the head which originated inside the mouth exiting the left face, which is not consistent with his positioning inside the boat. The descriptions of the result of this particular injury (injuries to the middle ear/permanent deafness/blindness in one eye, etc.) indicate that he would likely have experienced significant problems with balance, difficulty following instructions etc., none of which he appeared to exhibit whilst still inside the boat.
Furthermore, he sustained a severe slash to the side of his neck, which did not appear to be present whilst he was still in the boat.
Under such circumstances, this seems a reasonable question to ask: Exactly when and how did Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sustain those injuries?
Related posts:
Dzhokhar's Note in The Boat: A not so watertight confession?
Flash bangs and their use in Boston: What you need to know
2013: THE YEAR AMERICA BEGAN HUNTING DOWN AND SHOOTINGS IT'S OWN TEENAGERS. WHY?
Flash bangs and their use in Boston: What you need to know
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