Firearm injuries in children

Objectives: Retrospective analysis to review pattern of firearm injuries (accidental/intentional), the area of body and organs affected and the outcome in these patients. Methodology: A case series descriptive study conducted at the department of Paediatric Surgery Chandka Medical College Hospital of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana Sindh, from July 2010 to July 2015. All those patients who presented or were diagnosed as cases of firearm injuries and managed accordingly were included in the study. Results: During the study period 59 patients (40 male and 19 female) were managed. The age of patients varied from 7 months to 13 years. Majority of patients (96.61%) sustained accidentally unintentional firearm injuries at or around home. Injuries involved various anatomical areas of the body and abdomen was the most common area injured followed by chest and other areas of the body. Laparotomy was done in 21 patients and various internal organs found damaged and intestine was the common organ injured. Tube thoracostomy (chest intubation) was done in 7 patients who developed haemo/pneumothorax due to thoracic injuries. Superficial injuries were managed conservatively. Postoperatively wound infection was a common complication noted in 5 patients who underwent laparotomy. Majority of the patients 49 (83.33%) recovered and discharged, 6 (10.16%) patients referred to other specialties while 4 (6.77%) patients expired. Conclusion: Firearm injuries in children are accidental in nature, abdomen is the common area involved and these injuries are associated with significant morbidity.