title: Pattern of civilian gunshot wounds in Durban, South Africa.
abstract: To evaluate the pattern, demographics, circumstances behind events and patient outcome of civilian gunshot wounds (GSWs), we conducted a prospective review in a surgical department in Durban, South Africa over a period of 9 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients admitted with GSWs to Prince Mshyeni Memorial Hospital were included in this study from June 2006 to February 2007. Patients' characteristics, events during assault, time of admission, mode of transport to hospital, pattern of injury and patient outcome were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 154 patients with GSWs were included in this study (85.1% males; 14.9% females) with average age of 21 years. Mode of transport to hospital was as follows: private (57.1%), ambulance (31.8%) and unknown (11.1%). The common sites of GSW injury were abdomen (26.6%), upper/lower limbs (25.3%) and chest (8.8%). Circumstances during injury were as follows: armed robbery (59.7%), car-hijacking (10.4%), interpersonal violence (9.1%) and 6.5% were shot by police. Injury to arrival time ranged from 20 min to 24 h (average 200 min). The common complications of GSW injury were superficial wound sepsis (27.4%), prolonged morbidity (7.1%) and empyema (3.2%). The mortality rate was 4.5%, all males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that the burden of GSW-related mortality and morbidity poses a substantial threat to the local public health. A national database for reporting all GSWs is recommended for proper assessment of the magnitude of the problem and to facilitate funding for research into injury prevention.
authors.affiliation: Prince Mshyeni Memorial Hospital, University of Kwazulu Natal, Nelson Mandela, School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa. charms@doctors.org.uk.|, 466 Windsor Street, Garsfontein, Pretoria, 0081, South Africa. charms@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Inchien
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chamisa
keywords: Gunshot wounds; Trauma
references.citation: S Afr J Surg. 2005 Nov;43(4):170-2
references.pmid: 16440592
references.citation: Br J Surg. 1990 Jun;77(6):652-5
references.pmid: 2383733
references.citation: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1999 Nov 19;48(45):1029-34
references.pmid: 10599587
references.citation: S Afr Med J. 1984 Jul 7;66(1):24-6
references.pmid: 6729653
references.citation: S Afr Med J. 2002 Oct;92(10):798-802
references.pmid: 12432804
references.citation: J Trauma. 1987 May;27(5):532-6
references.pmid: 3553611
references.citation: S Afr Med J. 2000 Mar;90(3):251-5
references.pmid: 10853402
references.citation: S Afr Med J. 1991 Jan 19;79(2):93-5
references.pmid: 1989097
references.citation: S Afr Med J. 1999 Apr;89(4):396
references.pmid: 10341823