Original Articles EPIDEMIOLOGY OF FIREARM WEAPONS INJURIES AT DISTRICT HEAD QUARTER TEACHING HOSPITAL, GUJRANWALA

Abstract

Objective:

Firearm weapons injuries are an important component of the medico legal examination. The current study was planned to know the epidemiology of firearm weapons injuries, to update the junior Medicolegal Examinersabout the appropriate recognition, interpretation and investigationof firearm weaponsinjuries.

Material and method:

The present study comprised of fifty seven cases of firearm weapons injuries presented in Trauma Centre of D.H.Q/Teaching Hospital, Gujranwala, during the year 2012 including 50 Males (80.72 %)and07 Females (12.28 %). Their medico legal record was reviewed retrospectively; Demographicprofile, including age and sex distribution was recorded. Firearm weapons injuries were described according to distance, manner of infliction of injury and area of distribution.

Results:

The age ranged from 1 to above 60 years. The maximum number22 (38.6%) were of age between 21-30 years (Table 1) out of 57 cases, 50 (87.72%) were male and 07 (12.28%) were female (Table 2).Cases of far distance fire were 47 (82.46%), near distance fire were 6(10.52%) and loose contact fire were 4 (7.02%)(Table 3).Regarding manner, 55 (96.49%) werehomicidal and 2 (3.51%) were by friendly hand (Table 4). Urban cases were 45 (78.95%) and rural were12 (21.05%)(Table 5). Conclusion: Most of firearm weapons injury cases at District Head Quarter Teaching Hospital Gujranwala are of distant fire and are homicidal. Most cases are from urban areas.