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Epidemiology, demographics, and outcomes of craniomaxillofacial gunshot wounds in a level I trauma center. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2014 Jul;42(5):403-11

Date

08/13/2013

Pubmed ID

23932740

DOI

10.1016/j.jcms.2013.06.004

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84902165847 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   10 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gunshot injuries to the craniomaxillofacial region are a challenge to the trauma and reconstructive surgeon. Although management of these injuries has been standardized and early rather than late intervention is advocated, the patient characteristics before, during, and after have been poorly elucidated.

METHODS: A prospectively maintained Level I trauma center database was queried as to gunshot wounds of the craniomaxillofacial skeleton. Over a five-year period (2007-2011), 168 patients were identified with these injuries. Charts were reviewed as to demographics, presentations, and outcomes and these were tested for significant relationships with hospital length of stay, numbers and types of procedures, morbidity, and mortality.

RESULTS: Gunshot wounds to the craniofacial skeleton resulted in 71 deaths in this patient population. Those that died were significantly older, presented with a lower GCS, had a shorter LOS, and a higher INR than those that lived. Subgroup analysis of mechanism demonstrated mortality was more likely to occur as a result of self-inflicted injury in whites and due to assault in the African-American population.

CONCLUSIONS: Data gathered from this study disputes some commonly held beliefs regarding the epidemiology of gunshot injuries and should allow for better characterization of which outcomes are consistent with which presentations.

Author List

Tholpady SS, DeMoss P, Murage KP, Havlik RJ, Flores RL

Author

Robert Havlik MD Chair, Professor in the Plastic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Epidemiologic Studies
Facial Bones
Facial Injuries
Female
Firearms
Glasgow Coma Scale
Hospitalization
Humans
Indiana
International Normalized Ratio
Length of Stay
Male
Mental Disorders
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Skull
Suicide
Treatment Outcome
Violence
Wounds, Gunshot
Young Adult