Kneecapping

Kneecapping is a form of malicious wounding, in which the victim is injured in the knee, often as torture. The injury is typically inflicted by a low-velocity gunshot to the back of the knee (popliteal fossa) with a handgun. The term is considered a misnomer by medical professionals, because only a very small minority of victims suffer damage to the kneecap. A review of eighty kneecapping victims found that only two had a fractured kneecap. Some victims have their elbows and ankles shot as well.