GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO THE BRAIN IN CHILDREN

Firearm injuries to children, including those involving the brain, are increasing in frequency. Most studies of brain injury in children, fr om epidemiological through outcome studies, have excluded gunshot woun ds, The literature available on gunshot wounds to the brain in childre n will be reviewed, as well as pertinent literature on gunshot wounds to the brain in adult civilian and military populations. Ballistics, e pidemiology, types and mechanisms of primary and secondary injuries re sulting from gunshot wounds to the brain, management, and prognostic f actors associated with outcome will be discussed. Cases with outcomes that would not have been predicted from information available in the l iterature will be presented and discussed, along with the implications for need for further research.