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Abstract
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INTRODUCTION: Gun violence is a substantial public health problem accounting for significant physical, psychological and financial costs. While aggregate data sources demonstrate decreasing rates of firearm violence, analyses from individual trauma centers have shown that mortality and injury severity from GSWs are increasing. To evaluate the evolving characteristics of gun violence in our region, we studied all GSWs admitted to our trauma center over a twenty-year period.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all newly admitted patients with GSWs was performed from 1996 to 2016. Our trauma registry was used to collect data on demographics, mortality, injury severity, body regions injured and geographic location of injury. Homicide data was obtained from local law enforcement.
RESULTS: 11,294 patients with GSWs were reviewed. The number of GSWs treated per biennium increased from 1,349 in 1996-1997 to 1,484 in 2014-2015, with a 59% percent increase occurring from 2010-2011 to 2014-2015. Overall mortality was 14.6% and decreased from 15.8% in 1996-1997 to 10.2% in 2014-2015 (p<0.0001). Mean injury severity score (ISS) was 12.6 and the percent of patients who suffered GSWs to ≥ 3 AIS body regions increased from 2.5% in 1996-1997 to 7.7% in 2014-2015 (p<0.0001). Local firearm homicide data shows a 118% increase from 2010 to 2016.
CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to other recent studies, we found that mortality decreased while the number of patients treated for GSWs and those with multi-compartmental injuries increased. The decrease in mortality suggests improved trauma systems, as well as an increase in non-fatal GSWs that dilutes overall mortality. Wounding in multiple body regions suggests more effective weaponry, including increased magazine size. The recent increase in local homicides parallels trends in registry data and illustrates worsening gun violence in our region. Further research is needed to understand local and regional determinants of increased gun violence to better guide prevention strategies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, epidemiological study.
Language: en |