A Prospective Study of Gunshot Injuries among the Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department

Authors

  • Saurabh Pathak Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences, Gajraula, Uttar Pradesh
  • Faiz Ahmad Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, F.H. Medical College, Tundla, Uttar Pradesh
  • Kashif Ali Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/z00qe161

Keywords:

Gunshot, Country made Guns, Illegal Weapons.

Abstract

Background-Increased incidence of firearm injuries in developing countries has been attributed to poverty, unemployment, political instability, lack of education and unequal distribution of wealth. Itis one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in our country.

Material and methods-This prospective study was conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, AMU, Aligarh in the department of Forensic Medicine and in the Trauma and Emergency department between October 2018 to September 2020.130 patients of Gunshot injuries were included after obtaining informed consent.

Results-Males (n=115; 88.46 %) were the predominant victims of gunshot injuries while female patients comprise of 11.54 % (n=15) only. Male to female ratio was 7.67:1. Majority (n=115; 88.46 %) of the gunshot injury cases were the result of homicidal motive. Lower (n=50; 35.46 %) and upper extremities (n=41; 31.53 %) were the most common sites of injury.

Conclusion-There is a need to decrease the number of firearms used and sold in India. We need to eradicate illicit local community gun manufacturing units.

References

Crime in India 2016 [Internet]. Available from: http://ncrb.gov.in/StatPublications/CII/CII2016/pdfs/Crime%20Statistics%20-%202016.pdf

Mohammed AZ, Edino ST, Ochicha O, Umar AB. Epidemiology of gunshot injuries in Kano, Nigeria. Nigerian. J Surg Res. 2005;7(3):296-9.

Burg A, Nachum G, Salai M, Haviv B, Heller S, Velkes S, et al. Treating civilian gunshot wounds to the extremities in a level 1 trauma center: our experience and recommendations. IMAJ. 2009;11:546-51.

Singh SP, Singh PK, Prakash M, Singh P, Chaudhary G. Pattern of firearm injuries managed at rural tertiary centre in Western Uttar Pradesh, North India. IntSurg J. 2017;4:2677-82.

Thube HR, Chikhalkar BG. A study of fatal gunshot injuries over two years in Mumbai, India. IJFCM. 2017; 4(3):154-157.

Kumar A, Sachan R, Verma A. Medico-Legal Evaluation of Firearm Injuries-An Original Study from India with Review of Literature. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2014;60(S1):S83-S86.

Mohiddin S, Rao B, Raju B. A Comprehensive Study of Deaths due to Firearm Injuries. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. 2016; 10: 34.

Schellenberg M, Owattanapanich N, Cremonini C, Heindel P, Anderson GA, Clark DH, et al. Shotgun wounds: nationwide trends in epidemiology, injury patterns, and outcomes from US trauma centers. J Emerg Med. 2020;58:719–24.

Ajamu OJ and KnOzoilo. Firearm Injuries at Keffi: Observations from a Tertiary Health Facility in North-Central Nigeria. Jos Journal of Medicine.2019;13(1):39-45.

Kumari S, Rajput A, Agarwal A, Aayesha A, Chaturvedi RK. Medico-legal aspects of firearm injury cases in Agra region. Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine. 2014;36: 387-390.

KaulaskarShashikant V, KolpeDayanand V, UdaykiranBhalge, Pandey SK, Pathak M. Pattern of Fatal Firearm Injuries Pertaining to Manner of Death: An Original Research Article. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology 2018; 14(1): 38-43.

Chamisa I. Pattern of civilian gunshot wounds in Durban, South Africa. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2011 Feb;37(1):37-40.

Elachi, Itodo&Yongu, Williams &Nahachi, Chukwukadibia&Onyemaechi, Ndubuisi&Odatuwa-Omagbemi, David &Mue, Daniel. The Pattern of Civilian Gunshot Injuries at a University Hospital in North Central Nigeria. 2015; 14: 87-90.

de Anda H, Dibble T, Schlaepfer C, Foraker R, Mueller K. A Cross-Sectional Study of Firearm Injuries in Emergency Department Patients. Mo Med. 2018 Sep-Oct;115(5):456-462.

Downloads

Published

2024-07-10

How to Cite

A Prospective Study of Gunshot Injuries among the Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department. (2024). Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 18(3), 163-168. https://doi.org/10.37506/z00qe161