Civilian gunshot extremity fractures with neurologic injury (original) (raw)

Military gunshot wound-induced spinal cord injuries

Military medicine, 2002

Gunshot wounds are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries in developed countries, whereas in undeveloped and developing countries, this likelihood is much more. However, the weapon and injury characteristics are very different between those two groups of countries. The aim of this study was to review our experience with gunshot wound-caused spinal cord injury during our struggle with terrorism, to examine surgical and medical complications, and to determine the difference between civilian and military gunshot wounds. One hundred five male patients (mean, 25 years of age) were examined according to completeness, spinal and nonspinal injuries, American Spinal Injury Association classification, motor and pinprick scores, surgical and nonsurgical interventions, surgical complications, and spinal cord injury-related medical complications. This study has shown that the likelihood of completeness was higher in gunshot wounds with high velocity weapons. Because of their higher wou...

Spine Injuries Are Common Among Asymptomatic Patients After Gunshot Wounds

The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care, 2005

Background: Spine injuries after gunshot wounds are thought to be rare among asymptomatic patients. The occurrence of spine injuries among asymptomatic patients with gunshot wounds was studied to determine the necessity for mandatory spine immobilization and radiographic imaging. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, initial physical examination, radiographic findings, and final diagnosis and treatment were reviewed. Patients were included if they were admitted to the authors' level 1 trauma center with gunshot wounds to the head, neck, or trunk during a 10-year period. Spine injuries were considered "significant" if the injury was associated with spinal cord injury or required spine-related surgical procedures or prolonged spine immobilization. Spine injuries were defined as "unsuspected" if there were no neurologic findings at admission. Results: During the study period, 2,450 patients who survived more than 24 hours were admitted with gunshot wounds to the trunk, neck, or head. Of these patients, 244 (approximately 10%) had spine injuries, and 228 of them had complete records. Two thirds of the spine injuries were found to be significant, requiring surgery or prolonged immobilization, and 13% were unsuspected. Conclusions: Spine injuries without neurologic signs are not uncommon among patients with gunshot wounds. Complete radiographic spine imaging is therefore recommended to ensure that spine injuries are not missed in this population.

Spinal Gunshot Wounds: Pattern and Associated Lesions in Civilians

Asian spine journal, 2018

Retrospective, descriptive case series study. To investigate the frequency, bone pattern, and associated lesions to the spine of gunshot wounds. Gunshot wounds are penetrating in nature and are caused by a bullet or projectile. These are becoming more common and are associated with significant sequelae, requiring long and costly multidisciplinary treatment. Associated spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in the civilian population represent 13%-17% of all spinal traumas. Spinal gunshot wounds are commonly thought to be stable; however, there is potential acute and chronic spinal instability if the bullet passes transversely, fracturing either both pedicles or both facet joints. We obtained data from the clinical files of patients with spinal gunshot wounds treated by spine surgeons. We performed a statistical analysis to obtain the pattern and frequency of the injuries. We included 54 patients (48 men [89%] and six women [11%]). Eight patterns of spinal gunshot wounds were identified; 61% (3...

Treating civilian gunshot wounds to the extremities in a level 1 trauma center: our experience and recommendations

The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ, 2009

Gunshot wounds impose a continuous burden on community and hospital resources. Gunshot injuries to the extremities might involve complex soft tissue, bone, vascular, musculotendinous, and nerve injuries. A precise knowledge of anatomy is needed to evaluate and treat those injuries. To review our experience with gunshot wounds to the extremities. We retrospectively reviewed all civilian cases of gunshot wounds to the limbs treated in our institution during 2003-2005. Altogether, we evaluated 60 patients with 77 injuries. Of the 60 patients 36 had fractures, 75% of them in the lower extremity and 81% in long bones. The most common fixation modality used was external fixation (33%), followed by intramedullary nailing (25%). This relatively high percentage of fracture treated with external fixation may be attributed to the comminuted pattern of the fractures, the general status of the patient, or the local soft tissue problems encountered in gunshot wounds. About one-fifth of the fractu...

Civilian penetrating gunshot injury to the neurocranium in Enugu

Nigerian Journal of Surgery, 2017

Introduction: Civilian penetrating gunshot injuries to the neurocranium are no longer uncommon in Nigeria. Such injuries are however poorly reported. They are associated with poor outcome and, at close range, are frequently fatal, especially when inflicted by high-velocity weapons. Prompt transfer to neurosurgical service and urgent intervention may improve outcome in those that are not mortally wounded. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients with civilian penetrating gunshot wounds seen over a 10-year period (2004-2014

Prognostic Factors in Craniocerebral Gunshot Wounds: Analysis of 30 Patients from the Neurosurgical Viewpoint

Turkish Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, 2020

BACKGROUND: Craniocerebral gunshot wounds (CGW) are the most lethal injuries of the cranium. CGW is mostly secondary to military conflicts but may also be seen in civilian life. These injuries also have severe consequences, such as epilepsy, hydrocephalus, infection and late-term cognitive dysfunctions. The present study aims to present our series of CGW and to discuss the prognostic factors and consequences of these injuries. METHODS: The data of patients who were treated in our department for CGW between 2011 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed in this study. The injury type, wounding site, surgical management and outcomes were analyzed. Radiological evaluation was also performed. RESULTS: Thirty patients were treated with the diagnosis of CGW. All of the patients were male and the mean age was 27.9 years. The frontal lobe was affected in 12 (40%) patients, while temporal lobe in eight, occipital lobe in six, parietal lobe in three, and posterior fossa in one patients. Twenty-three patients underwent surgical treatment, seven patients were treated conservatively. Thirteen (43.3%) patients died despite the treatment. CONCLUSION: Mortality in CGW is high. Ventricular injuries, bihemispheric or midline injuries, perforating injuries, brain stem injuries and low GCS score at admission are prognostic factors for CGW. Appropriate management is mandatory to obtain a better clinical outcome.