DEMOGRAPHICS OF CIVILIAN CRANIAL GUNSHOT WOUNDS - DEVASTATION RELATEDTO ESCALATING SEMIAUTOMATIC USAGE

The demographics and outcome of patients with gunshot wounds to the he ad over the past 10 years at Chicago's Cook County Hospital was examin ed. The study group consisted of 476 consecutive patients admitted to this urban level I trauma center with a diagnosis of penetrating crani ocerebral missile injury, All patients followed a protocol that includ ed aggressive surgical management when indicated, The Glasgow Outcome Score was used to assess outcome, There is an alarming rise in firearm violence in general and craniocerebral injury in particular. Some pat ients with severe neurologic deficits and massive cerebral damage can benefit from aggressive treatment and make a good recovery, A large pr oportion of this violence is most likely attributable to gang activity , Factors correlating with poor outcome included hypotension, apnea, b ihemispheric injuries, or ventricular penetration. Although aggressive surgical and medical management improves the outcome of these patient s, much more stringent preventative measures are required to control t his violent epidemic.