Spinal gunshot wounds: A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study. / [Artículo traducido] Lesiones vertebrales por proyectil de arma de fuego: estudio de cohorte retrospectivo, multicéntrico.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics and treatment of patients with spinal gunshot wounds across Latin America. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study of patients treated for gunshot wounds to the spine spanning 12 institutions across Latin America between January 2015 and January 2022. Demographic and clinical data were recorded, including the time of injury, initial assessment, characteristics of the vertebral gunshot injury, and treatment. RESULTS: Data on 423 patients with spinal gunshot injuries were extracted from institutions in Mexico (82%), Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. Patients were predominantly male civilians in low-risk-of-violence professions, and of lower/middle social status, and a sizeable majority of gunshots were from low-energy firearms. Vertebral injuries mainly affected the thoracic and lumbar spine. Neurological injury was documented in 320 (76%) patients, with spinal cord injuries in 269 (63%). Treatment was largely conservative, with just 90 (21%) patients treated surgically, principally using posterior open midline approach to the spine (79; 87%). Injury features distinguishing surgical from non-surgical cases were neurological compromise (P = 0.004), canal compromise (P < 0.001), dirty wounds (P < 0.001), bullet or bone fragment remains in the spinal canal (P < 0.001) and injury pattern (P < 0.001). After a multivariate analysis through a binary logistic regression model, the aforementioned variables remained statistically significant except neurological compromise. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter study of spinal gunshot victims, most were treated non-surgically, despite neurological injury in 76% and spinal injury in 63% of patients.

Spinal gunshot wounds: A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics and treatment of patients with spinal gunshot wounds across Latin America. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study of patients treated for gunshot wounds to the spine spanning 12 institutions across Latin America between January 2015 and January 2022. Demographic and clinical data were recorded, including the time of injury, initial assessment, characteristics of the vertebral gunshot injury, and treatment. RESULTS: Data on 423 patients with spinal gunshot injuries were extracted from institutions in Mexico (82%), Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. Patients were predominantly male civilians in low-risk-of-violence professions, and of lower/middle social status, and a sizeable majority of gunshots were from low-energy firearms. Vertebral injuries mainly affected the thoracic and lumbar spine. Neurological injury was documented in n=320 (76%) patients, with spinal cord injuries in 269 (63%). Treatment was largely conservative, with just 90 (21%) patients treated surgically, principally using posterior open midline approach to the spine (n=79; 87%). Injury features distinguishing surgical from non-surgical cases were neurological compromise (p=0.004), canal compromise (p<0.001), dirty wounds (p<0.001), bullet or bone fragment remains in the spinal canal (p<0.001) and injury pattern (p<0.001). After a multivariate analysis through a binary logistic regression model, the aforementioned variables remained statistically significant except neurological compromise. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter study of spinal gunshot victims, most were treated non-surgically, despite neurological injury in 76% and spinal injury in 63% of patients.

Prognosis of mortality and evolution in pancreatoduodenal trauma in patients with wound by projectile of firearm.

BACKGROUND: The wounds caused by the firearm projectile are published to date in a public health problem in the world. As an example, we mentioned the injuries caused by firearms are the first cause of death in the age group between 1 to 19 years in the United States, as in Mexico. OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the prognostic factors of mortality and evaluation of the evolution in patients with TPD due to abdominal HPPAF. METHOD: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study. Helped by 49 clinical files of patients who were admitted to the department of surgery of the University Hospital José Eleuterio González, between 2011 to 2015 and whose diagnosis was due to pancreatic trauma (TP), duodenal trauma (TD) or pancreatoduodenal trauma (TPD) by wounds caused by the firearm projectile. RESULTS: During a collection period of 5 years, a total of 49 clinical records applicable to the study were obtained according to the inclusion criteria, of which 36 (73%) suffered only from TD, 37 (75%) from TP and 24 (49%) about TPD. Significant differences were obtained for mortality associated with TD and TPD, but not for TP. The most affected organ as a lesion associated with a TPD was the liver, followed by thoracic structures and the stomach. The most significant risk factor for mortality was a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS: Data obtained are consistent with those consulted, providing new reproducible statistics for future studies regarding the increasing violence in our country and around the world.

ANTECEDENTES: Las heridas por proyectil de arma de fuego constituyen un problema de salud pública en el mundo. Como ejemplo mencionamos que este tipo de lesiones son la primera causa de muerte en el grupo de edad de 1 a 19 años en los EE.UU., al igual que en México. OBJETIVO: Análisis de los factores pronósticos de mortalidad y evaluación de la evolución en pacientes con TPD por HPPAF abdominal. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo, observacional y descriptivo, realizado con 49 expedientes clínicos de pacientes que fueron admitidos en el departamento de cirugía del Hospital Universitario José Eleuterio González entre los años 2011 y 2015, cuyo diagnostico fue herida por proyectil de arma de fuego con trauma pancreático (TP), duodenal (TD) o pancreatoduodenal (TPD). RESULTADOS: Durante un periodo de recolección de 5 años se obtuvieron 49 expedientes clínicos aplicables al estudio según los criterios de inclusión, de los cuales 36 pacientes (73%) sufrieron únicamente TD, 37 (75%) TP y 24 (49%) TPD. Se obtuvieron diferencias significativas para la mortalidad asociada a TD y TPD, pero no para TP. El órgano más afectado como lesión asociada a un TPD fue el hígado, seguido de las estructuras torácicas y el estómago. El factor de riesgo para mortalidad más significativo fue una estancia prolongada en la unidad de cuidados intensivos. CONCLUSIONES: Los datos conseguidos concuerdan con los consultados, otorgando nueva estadística reproducible para futuros estudios respecto a la violencia creciente en nuestro país y alrededor del mundo.

El trauma cráneo encefálico como causa de muerte violenta en Costa Rica en el año 2004 / Head injury as a causa of violent death in Costa Rica in 2004

Es bien sabido que el trauma cráneo encefálico es un importante contribuyente dentro de las causas de muertes traumáticas, sin embargo en Costa Rica no existen estadísticas actualizadas al respecto. En este trabajo se analizaron las muertes provocadas por este tipo de trauma en el año 2004 para determinar sus características demográficas, ubicación temporal y geográfica, etiología médico legal y las lesiones específicas que provocaron la muerte. Se concluyó, después del análisis de los datos obtenidos, que la mayoría de muertes son prevenibles (accidentes de tránsito, heridas por proyectil de arma de fuego), que las lesiones más frecuentes son las producidas por traumatismos sin objeto animado (non missile injuries), que las lesiones anotadas como causa ulterior de muerte son predominantemente la contusión y laceración cerebral, pero que existe un subdiagnóstico de lesiones letales como el daño axonal difuso, por dificultades técnicas. No obstante el resto del perfil epidemiológico de las víctimas (masculino, de edad laboralmente productiva y habitante de ciudad) coinciden con la bibliografía más reciente revisada.

It's a well-known fact the importance of head injury as causes of death on violent deaths around the world; however in Costa Rica there're not current statistics about this phenomenon. In this paper we analyzed this kind of violent deaths in 2004 for to define its demographic, geographic and chronological characteristics. Also, for analyzing its medico-legal etiology and its specific lethal injury. The conclusions of this paper were: in most cases lethal injury was subject to prevention, because they were caused by traffic accidents or gunshots. The non missile injury, the head experiments a suddenly acceleration, it was the main mechanism involved in lethal injuries. Principal injuries notated as main cause of death in the final autopsy report were brain contusion and lacerations, however there were a sub diagnosis of lethal injuries like diffuse axonal damage due a technical problems. The epidemiological profile of the victims (economically active male, and city inhabitant) coincided with recent bibliography.