Pattern of gunshot injuries as seen at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu: January 1999 December 2004.
BACKGROUND
Civilian gunshot injuries are common in our environment. Hospitalisation for this appears to be on the increase especially around the periods of general elections, but studies on the peri-election pattern are lacking. This report examines the pattern of gunshot injuries seen at an apex trauma centre spanning the periods of two general elections.


METHODS
This hospital based retrospective study reviewed all admissions into the trauma unit of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu over six years (January 1999 December 2004). The sources of data were the trauma unit admission registers, nurses' report books, and the case notes of the patients. Simple arithmetic analysis was used.


RESULTS
Of 6,765 trauma admissions in the period, gunshot injuries accounted for 306 (4.5%). In 1999 and 2003 they accounted for 6% and 8% of all trauma admissions respectively The overall pattern over the six year period shows the incidence rises from January to a peak in May However in the election year 1999, a progression in incidence immediately following May (the month of hand-over) rising to a peak in August was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
A definite increase in presentation of gunshot injuries exist in the years of general elections.
Nzewuihe
Chijioke A E
CA
National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu.
Onumaegbu
Okechukwu O
OO
Onah
Ifeanyichukwu I
II
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011057:Politics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery