An analysis of pediatric gunshot wounds treated at a Level I pediatric XXXX center.

@entity1 @entity204 @entity130
BACKGROUND: We reviewed the incidence and injury severity of @entity1 with gunshot wounds (GSWs) at our hospital. METHODS: We compared @entity130 registry, emergency unit (EU), and admissions data from January 1993 to June 1996 (period I) and July 1996 to December 1999 (period II). Outcome measures included EU disposition ( @entity204 , immediate operation, pediatric intensive care unit, ward), injury severity, mortality, and injury cause (accidental, intentional). RESULTS: We treated 437 @entity1 for GSWs in the EU, with 238 (54%) admissions and 199 discharges. Comparing period I versus period II, @entity1 treated declined from 288 to 149 (-52%, p < 0.001), and admissions decreased from 159 to 79 (-50%, p < 0.001). Injury severity increased from 35% to 57% (p < 0.001). @entity1 requiring immediate operations increased from 20% to 42% (p < 0.001). Direct ward admissions declined from 65% to 43% (p < 0.001). @entity204 occurred in 3% of @entity1 in both time periods. Accidental and intentional GSWs were evenly divided. CONCLUSION: An alarming number of @entity1 , an average of 62 @entity1 annually, were treated for GSWs at our hospital. Despite a 52% reduction in GSWs, the percentage of severely injured @entity1 increased by 63%. These data emphasize the importance of prevention, education, early assessment, and operative treatment.
