Cranial gunshot injuries and treatment approaches

Abstract

21 patients with gunshot wounds were retrospectively evaluated. They were 19 male and 2 female, age range was 9-24. All of the patients underwent a plain x-ray and computed tomography evaluation. 9 patients had intracerebral hematoma, 4 had subdural hematoma, 1 had epidural hematoma and 1 had intraventricular hematoma. 9 patients were observed to have bullet in the cranium. All the patients with glasgow coma scale 3-5 at the admittance died. 15 patients underwent surgical treatment. 3 patients had cerebrospinal fluid fistula postoperatively and underwent reoperation. Extensivity of the lacerated brain, localization of the lesion and the glasgow coma scale at the admittance affect the outcome in gunshot wounds.