Organ injuries in civilian gunshot trauma
Introduction: In the countries where firearm possession is illegal, the gunshot traumas are very rare. However, even in these countries they remain as a significant health problem and affect both adult and pediatric populations. Materials and Methods: A total of 10,191 patients were hospitalized dur...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2019-01-01
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| Series: | MGM Journal of Medical Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mgmjms.com/article.asp?issn=2347-7946;year=2019;volume=6;issue=4;spage=187;epage=190;aulast=Sułkowski |
| Summary: | Introduction: In the countries where firearm possession is illegal, the gunshot traumas are very rare. However, even in these countries they remain as a significant health problem and affect both adult and pediatric populations. Materials and Methods: A total of 10,191 patients were hospitalized during the 9 years’ period at our center, of this 1,702 were trauma-related admissions. The gunshot trauma caused multi-organ injuries in six patients receiving surgery, with a mean age of 36.2 years. Results: The injuries to the particular organs were assessed according to the Organ Injury Scale proposed by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Patients received damage control surgery, including laparotomies, thoracotomy and thoraco-phreno-laparotomies. Discussion: Gunshot trauma is one of the penetrating injuries, affecting predominantly young, adult males. In the civilian population of urban areas, low-energy gunshot traumas exceed high-energy ones. The trajectory of the bullet may help to assess potential organ injuries. The injuries to the organs and cavities were directly proportional to complications and mortality rates. Conclusion: The gunshot trauma is an uncommon cause of multi-organ injury compared to road traffic injuries. However, when it occurs, many organs may be involved or severely injured. The surgical approach depends on the severity of organ injuries and is usually a combination of laparotomy and thoracotomy. The damage control surgery is recommended for hemodynamically unstable patients. |
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| ISSN: | 2347-7946 2347-7962 |