Pattern of Firearm Injuries: A Five Year Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Centre in Central India

Abstract

Firearm injuries are reported all over the world. From very basic thermodynamic structures to the most
sophisticated semi-automatic and automatic guns of the present times, firearms are one of the common
causes of significant mortality. In our country there is rampant use of unlicensed country - made firearms,
particularly in rural areas. The present study was conducted at a teaching cum tertiary care hospital in
Gwalior region of Central India, a region which is notoriously famous for the use of illicit firearms.
The study was retrospectively done analysing the firearm injury cases brought to the mortuary of G.R.
Medical College, Gwalior from January 2015 - December 2019 for post-mortem examination. All relevant
information regarding autopsy cases were gathered from relatives, police paper; inquest reports, ballistic
reports, crime scene findings, autopsy reports. A scientific tabulation of all relevant information was done to
arrive at various epidemiological markers relating to firearm injury cases.
In the present study it was concluded that young males were more vulnerable for firearm related deaths
with 21-30 years age range showing maximal preponderance. While country made weapons and shotguns
accounted for greater majority of cases, rifled weapons were involved either. A plethora of underlying social
and psychological factors accounted for such death though region specific familial rivalries stood first in
order. Maximum observed diurnal frequency of firearm deaths were reported in relatively calm hours of
night, though no time segment was spared. While in most cases single shots were reported, few other had
multiple inflictions. Head (including face) was the commonest site involved followed by thoraco-abdominal
injuries. Homicide was the most common manner of firearm deaths.