Comparison of clinical outcomes between anteroposterior and lateral penetrating craniocerebral gunshot wounds

• Published in: Emergency medicine journal : EMJ Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 409 - 410
• Main Authors: Izci, Y, Kayali, H, Daneyemez, M, Koksel, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine 01.06.2005; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adult; anteroposterior; Brain damage; central nervous system; Clinical outcomes; CNS; Coma; computed tomography; craniocerebral; Emergencies; GCS; Glasgow Coma Scale; Glasgow Coma Score; gunshot; Head Injuries, Penetrating - mortality; Head Injuries, Penetrating - pathology; Head Injuries, Penetrating - surgery; Humans; Injuries; lateral; Male; Mortality; Original; PCGW; penetrating craniocerebral gunshot wound; Retrospective Studies; Suicides & suicide attempts; surgery; Treatment Outcome; Wounds, Gunshot - mortality; Wounds, Gunshot - pathology; Wounds, Gunshot - surgery
• ISSN: 1472-0205; 1472-0213
• DOI: 10.1136/emj.2004.014704

Objective: To investigate and compare, using a retrospective clinical study, the clinical outcomes of penetrating craniocerebral gunshot wounds (PCGW) with respect to the trajectory of penetration in the axial plane. Methods: In total, 22 patients with PCGW caused by conflict, suicide attempt, or accidental firing were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: anteroposterior and lateral. All patients underwent surgical treatment following emergency intervention. Results: Of the 22 patients, 16 had anteroposterior and 6 had lateral penetrating injury. Four patients with anteroposterior and five patients with lateral injury died despite surgical treatment. Mortality rate was 25% in the anteroposterior and 83% in the lateral injury group. Conclusion: We found that lateral PCGW is the most devastating type of missile injury to the head.