TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1994//
TI  - Gunshot wounds: 10-year experience of a rural, referral trauma center
JO  - American surgeon
A1  - Dodge, G. G.
A1  - Cogbill, T. H.
A1  - Miller, G. J.
A1  - Landercasper, J.
A1  - Strutt, P. J.
SP  - 401
EP  - 404
VL  - 60
IS  - 6
N2  - The 10-year experience of a Level II trauma center with 122 gunshot wounds referred from a large rural area was analyzed to illustrate differences from the experience of urban centers. Most frequent causes of injury were attempted suicide in 38 (31%) patients, hunting mishaps in 32 (26%), unintentional accidents in 29 (24%), and intentional assault in 18 (15%). Of weapons specified, rifles were documented in 48 (39%) instances, shotguns in 25 (21%), and handguns in 24 (20%). Body regions injured were the trunk in 47 (39%) patients, head in 35 (29%), lower extremity in 31 (25%), and upper extremity in 29 (24%). Twenty-five patients (20%) died as a result of their injuries. The cause of death was brain injury in 18 (72%), exsanguination from truncal wounds in 5 (20%), myocardial infarction in 1 (4%), and multiple organ failure in 1 (4%). We conclude that the distributions of cause and type of gunshot wounds are unique in a rural setting. These differences have profound consequences in designing effective prevention programs for our area and support the design of more efficient trauma systems for rural North America.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0003-1348
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -