Gunshot Wounds of the Head and Spine

Gunshot wounds to the spine.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT The incidence of violent crimes has risen over the past decade. With it, gunshot injuries have become increasingly more common in the civilian population. Among the most devastating injuries are gunshot wounds to the spine. PURPOSE The purpose of this article is to provide a thorough review of the pathomechanics, diagnosis and treatment of gunshot wounds to the spine. STU...

Prognosis for gunshot wounds to the head.

Stability of cervical spine fractures after gunshot wounds to the head and neck.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency of stable and unstable cervical spine fractures after gunshot wounds to the head or neck; to identify potential risk factor(s) for an unstable versus stable cervical spine fracture. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Cervical spine fractures after gunshot wounds to the head and neck are common. Because of the nature of t...

C-spine injury associated with gunshot wounds to the head: retrospective study and literature review.

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of C-spine injury (CSI) associated with gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the head. METHODS A retrospective chart review including patients with GSWs to the head and excluding those with penetrating facial/neck trauma was performed. Cervical clearance was by clinical/radiologic criteria in survivors, and autopsy in nonsurvivors. A MEDLINE literature search was perf...

Patients with gunshot wounds to the head do not require cervical spine immobilization and evaluation.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of indirect spinal column injury in patients sustaining gunshot wounds to the head. METHODS A retrospective review of patient records and autopsy reports was conducted of patients admitted with gunshot wounds to the head between July of 1990 and September of 1995 were included. Those with gunshot wounds to the neck and those w...