medicolegal study of firearm injuries in El-Menofia governorate

ABSTRACT

Gunshot injuries are of major pathological interest in that they can be interpreted with considerable objectivity; the pathologist can often give opinions that are very well based and that are very well based and that are particularly valuable both to the policed and to the lawer. The work was a medicolegal and sociodemograhic study of firearm injuries in El-Menofia Governorate during the year 2000. The study was carried out on thirty-five cases with firearm injuries. The included 25 homicidal injuries [71.0%] and 10 accidental injuries [29.0%]. No suicidal cases were recorded in the present work and the majority of victims were males 31 [88.6%]. The maximum number of injuries was in the age group 20-30 years, and no cases were detected in the age group 0-10 years and above 60 years. A relatively large number of victims [4%] were rural which was related to the total number of population distributed in El-Menofia Governorate. The study revealed that home-made non-rifled weapons either firing shots or bullets [68.5%] were the most frequent weapons used. Extremities and trunk were the most common vulnerable sites for injuries 42.8% and 20.0% respectively. Although complete healing without infirmity was the most common outcome of firearm injuries [71.43%], permanent infirmity was the end results in 5 cases [14.29%]. Limb disabilities were the commonest type [80.0%], followed by eye affection or loss [20.0%] by air pistol gun. Fatal firing was recorded in five cases only [14.3%], of the total 35 victims of firearm injuries which can be explained by the predominance of home-made firearm weapons. Also most injuries were sited in the extremities which are generally less life-threatening