Pattern of radiographic findings in patient with gunshot injuries in university of maiduguri teaching hospital.

Abstract

Gunshot injuries (GSI) are a global public health problem and causes considerable problem in developing countries. Objectives: To determine the radiographic pattern of findings of gunshot injuries with its age and sex association and to find out its causes and anatomical part most involved. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted reviewing 397 records of patients with gunshot injuries with age range from 6-70 years, from December 2010 to December 2012, in Accident and emergency department of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Ethical clearance was obtained from the research ethical committee of the institution. Data collected was organized into groups according to age, sex, cause of gunshot injuries, patterns of findings and anatomical part affected. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 statistical software package, where the mean, percentages and frequencies were calculated. Result: The result showed that more males 92.7% were affected than the females 7.3% with a ratio of 13:1. More teenagers,within the age group of 11-20 years (20.4%) and young adults with age range from 21-30 years (38.3%) were mostly affected.Secondary assault 84.13% and armed robbery attack 10.8% were the highest cause of gunshot injuries. Fracture 44.8%, soft tissue bullets pellets injury 31.9% were the common findings, with the lower limb 53.6% and the upper limb 30.2% were the anatomical site commonly affected. Conclusion: The study found that more males were affected than the female with a ratio of 13:1. Extremities were the anatomical site commonly affected, with fractures and pellet injuries as the common injuries. Secondary assault (insurgence) and armed robbery attack were the major causes of these injuries which affected the most active age group (11-30 years) in the society.