Self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head during the war and post-war period.

Abstract

Thirty-five patients with self-inflicted gunshot brain injury were admitted to our hospital during 1991-96. War conditions and availability of firearms influenced the increase in these injuries, nearly six times greater than in the previous 6-year peace time period (1985-90). Our management protocol consisted of radical debridement of the missile track and evacuation of haematomata. For in-driven bone fragments we followed a less radical approach, but, if a post-operative computed tomogram (CT) showed a cluster of retained bone fragments, we operated on this. Attention was paid to the development of intracranial infection performing in such cases a contrast enhanced brain computed tomography. Ten patients died early and 29 were managed operatively. Twelve survived, and were followed-up for up to 60 months. No case of suicide recidivism was noted. We conclude that patients with a Glasgow Coma score of 3 should not be considered for operation. Per-operatively ultrasonography was very helpful in localizing and extracting in-driven bone fragments. Post-operatively, a CT scan is needed to demonstrate retained bone fragments.