Suicidal gunshot wounds to the head: a retrospective review of 406 cases.
A retrospective review of 406 suicidal gunshot wounds to the head, investigated at the Medico-Legal Laboratory of Pretoria, between 1997 and 2000 was performed. Fifty-seven percent of fatal suicidal firearm injury to the head occurred in the 21- to 40-year age range in both male and female victims. Eighty-two percent of all these victims of suicidal firearm fatalities to the head were male. Of the 406 cases, 63% were white, 31% were black, and 6% were of mixed ethnic and/or Asian decent. There was a slight increase in incidence around spring and autumn. Handguns were used in the majority of cases with shoulder weapons being used in 18 of the 406 cases. Ninety-two percent of the suicidal gunshot wounds to the head occurred indoors. A positive blood alcohol concentration was seen in 40% of cases. Of those examined, 81% were contact gunshot wounds. The trajectory was upward in 51% of cases and horizontal in 24% of cases. The right temple was the most common entrance gunshot wound site. Findings are in keeping with previously published literature.
Blumenthal
Ryan
R
Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria, PO Box 2034, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa. ryan.blumenthal@.up.ac.za
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology