[Craniocerebral civilian gunshot wounds: one hospital's experience].
BACKGROUND
In this study we have discussed the factors that affect our surgical results according to our experience on patients who were admitted to our hospital's Emergency Surgery Department for civilian craniocerebral gunshot wounds between 1997 and 2006.


METHODS
The clinical and radiological findings of 82 patients (74 males, 8 females) who were treated for civilian craniocerebral gunshot wounds were retrospectively recorded. Neurological and physical examination, cranial computerized tomography (CCT) findings, trauma types, treatment modalities, prognosis, complications, morbidity and mortality rates were analyzed.


RESULTS
Seventy-four (90%) of the patients were male, the mean age was 29.2 year. The Glasgow Coma Scores (GCS) during admission were as following respectively: 3-5 in 35 patients, 6-8 in 9 patients, 9-12 in 19 patients and 13-15 in 19 patients. According to their radiological findings, most commonly subdural hematoma, intracerebral hematoma, multiple contusion, depressed fracture and subarachnoidal hematoma were encountered. Operation or debridement was performed in 51 patients totally. Forty-one patients died and the mortality rate of 82 patients was calculated as 50%.


CONCLUSIONS
The mortality rate of craniocerebral gunshot wound is high. The patients with GCS higher than 8 and with unihemispheric lesions during admission have better prognosis. We concluded that all patients must undergo debridement and the patients that have mass effect must be operated as soon as possible.
Karasu
Aykut
A
Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
Cansever
Tufan
T
Sabanci
Pulat Akin
PA
Kiriş
Talat
T
Imer
Murat
M
Oran
Emre
E
Sencer
Altay
A
Unal
Faruk
F
D000328:Adult; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*