Comparison of the causes of death and wounding patterns in urban firearm-related violence and civilian public mass shooting events.
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Brain Injuries
/ etiology
Cause of Death
District of Columbia
/ epidemiology
Female
Heart Injuries
/ etiology
Humans
Lung Injury
/ etiology
Male
Mass Casualty Incidents
/ statistics & numerical data
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Time Factors
Transportation of Patients
/ statistics & numerical data
Trauma Centers
/ statistics & numerical data
Wounds, Gunshot
/ etiology
Young Adult
Journal
The journal of trauma and acute care surgery
ISSN: 2163-0763
Titre abrégé: J Trauma Acute Care Surg
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101570622
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Feb 2020
Feb 2020
Historique:
pubmed:
8
8
2019
medline:
15
2
2020
entrez:
8
8
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
There are no reports comparing wounding pattern in urban and public mass shooting events (CPMS). Because CPMS receive greater media coverage, there is a connation that the nature of wounding is more grave than daily urban gun violence. We hypothesize that the mechanism of death following urban gunshot wounds (GSWs) is the same as has been reported following CPMS. Autopsy reports of all firearm-related deaths in Washington, DC were reviewed from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. Demographic data, firearm type, number and anatomic location of GSWs, and organ(s) injured were abstracted. The organ injury resulting in death was noted. The results were compared with a previously published study of 19 CPMS events involving 213 victims. One hundred eighty-six urban autopsy reports were reviewed. There were 171 (92%) homicides and 13 (7%) suicides. Handguns were implicated in 180 (97%) events. One hundred eight (59%) gunshots were to the chest/upper back, 85 (46%) to the head, 77 (42%) to an extremity, and 71 (38%) to the abdomen/lower back. The leading mechanisms of death in both urban firearm violence and CPMS were injury to the brain, lung parenchyma, and heart. Fatal brain injury was more common in CPMS events as compared with urban events involving a handgun. There is little difference in wounding pattern between urban and CPMS firearm events. Based on the organs injured, rapid point of wounding care and transport to a trauma center remain the best options for mitigating death following all GSW events. Epidemiological, level IV.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
There are no reports comparing wounding pattern in urban and public mass shooting events (CPMS). Because CPMS receive greater media coverage, there is a connation that the nature of wounding is more grave than daily urban gun violence. We hypothesize that the mechanism of death following urban gunshot wounds (GSWs) is the same as has been reported following CPMS.
METHODS
METHODS
Autopsy reports of all firearm-related deaths in Washington, DC were reviewed from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. Demographic data, firearm type, number and anatomic location of GSWs, and organ(s) injured were abstracted. The organ injury resulting in death was noted. The results were compared with a previously published study of 19 CPMS events involving 213 victims.
RESULTS
RESULTS
One hundred eighty-six urban autopsy reports were reviewed. There were 171 (92%) homicides and 13 (7%) suicides. Handguns were implicated in 180 (97%) events. One hundred eight (59%) gunshots were to the chest/upper back, 85 (46%) to the head, 77 (42%) to an extremity, and 71 (38%) to the abdomen/lower back. The leading mechanisms of death in both urban firearm violence and CPMS were injury to the brain, lung parenchyma, and heart. Fatal brain injury was more common in CPMS events as compared with urban events involving a handgun.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
There is little difference in wounding pattern between urban and CPMS firearm events. Based on the organs injured, rapid point of wounding care and transport to a trauma center remain the best options for mitigating death following all GSW events.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
METHODS
Epidemiological, level IV.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31389914
doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000002470
pii: 01586154-202002000-00014
doi:
Types de publication
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
310-313Commentaires et corrections
Type : CommentIn
Références
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Injury mortality in the United States, 1999–2016. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data-visualization/injury-mortality/. Accessed February 24, 2019.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fatal injury reports 1981–2017 [Internet]. Injury Prevention and Control: data and statistics (WISQARS). www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/. Accessed February 2, 2019.
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