Craniocerebral gunshot injuries in preschoolers.
BACKGROUND
Gunshot wounds (GSW) to the head are the most lethal form of trauma; unfortunately, the frequency of children being involved in such form of trauma is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. We present our experience with four children from 2 to 3 years of age with craniocerebral GSW admitted to the neurosurgery service at a tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
For this study, four children, 2 to 3 years old, injured solely from bullet injuries to the head were selected. Their history, arrival Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), clinical presentation at the time of arrival in ER, radiological findings, management, and follow-up reviewed.


RESULTS
Out of four children, only one did not survive. The bullet entrance wound was in the parietal region in robbery-related incidences, and, in three cases, the injury was bihemispheric. The time taken to reach the emergency department was less than 2 h for all patients except one. Of four patients, three presented with GCS between 3 and 5 while 1 presented with GCS well above ten.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that even in children presenting with low GCS<5, an early act of aggressive surgical intervention can prove to be a life-saving measure.
Irfan
Furqan B
FB
Department of Neurosurgery, Aga Khan University, Karachi, 74800, Sindh, Pakistan. furqan.irfan@gmail.com
Hassan
Rameez Ul
RU
Kumar
Rajesh
R
Bhutta
Zain Ali
ZA
Bari
Ehsan
E
D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*