Societal risk factors associated with spinal cord injury secondary to gunshot wound.
OBJECTIVE
To determine (1) how many individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) secondary to gunshot wound (GSW) had previous violent injury requiring medical professional intervention or were previously involved in the criminal justice system, and (2) how many had social service intervention initiated before their SCI to deter future injury.


METHODS
Follow-up survey of patients admitted to an inpatient SCI rehabilitation unit between 1990 and 1998.


METHODS
An urban rehabilitation hospital.


METHODS
Fifty-six patients with SCI secondary to GSW.


METHODS
Survey questions inquired about previous GSW, violent injury, and criminal justice involvement. Subjects were queried about social service intervention.


METHODS
Number and percentage of respondents.


RESULTS
Of the 56 respondents, 17 (30%) had a previous GSW; 9 (16%) had another violent injury requiring treatment in the emergency department; and 29 (52%) had prior involvement in the criminal justice system. A total of 55 opportunities for social service intervention were identified. Social service intervention was initiated only once.


CONCLUSIONS
Most respondents had preinjury involvement in the criminal justice system and/or previous violent injury. In all of these situations except 1, there was failure to initiate social service intervention. These preliminary data suggest that criminal justice system involvement and violent injury are common among patients who have SCI secondary to GSW. More aggressive efforts at social service intervention could be an effective means to deter future disability.
Ragucci
M V
MV
New York University School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York, NY, USA. drguccido@aol.com
Gittler
M M
MM
Balfanz-Vertiz
K
K
Hunter
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications*