J Trauma
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Great emphasis is placed on the lethality of modern high-powered street weapons, and their impact on mortality from firearm injuries. Presented is a case of an air rifle BB injury to the chest, resulting in a penetrating injury of the right heart, with apparent retrograde embolization to the inferior vena cava. ⋯ This case exemplifies three important principles regarding penetrating chest trauma and air guns: (1) Modern air rifles, capable of muzzle velocities as high as 900 fps, are intrinsically lethal weapons; (2) missiles within the cardiovascular system have a propensity for embolization, and often follow an intuitively unexpected course; and (3) young healthy patients with potentially lethal penetrating cardiac injuries, particularly those caused by low velocity firearms, may appear stable and minimally injured in the emergency room. A strong suspicion of cardiac injury and prompt intervention should be extended to airgun injuries of the thorax.
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Comparative Study
Gunshot wounds seen at a county hospital before and after a riot and gang truce: Part Two.
An analysis was undertaken of the number of gunshot wound victims seen at a Los Angeles County hospital both before and after the Los Angeles riot. Since the LA riot the gang truce between the "Bloods" and the "Crips" resulted in a significant decrease in the number of gunshot wound victims seen at a level I trauma center in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, this lasted for only three months. The resurgence of shootings, mainly of the drive-by type (82%), to an occurrence rate higher than ever before, has negated any positive effect of the gang truce and indicates the need for additional measures to control gang violence.
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The changing profiles of spinal cord injuries in South Africa are addressed in this study. ⋯ Gunshots carry a heavier prognosis. Only 32% of our gunshot cases underwent a significant recovery as opposed to 61% of stab cases and 44% of the motor vehicle crash victims.
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A case is reported of a patient who sustained a cardiac injury from a 16-penny nail fired from a nail gun and who was successfully treated at a small rural hospital.
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To verify the appropriate methods of diagnosis and treatment of gunshot injuries to the penis and anterior urethra. ⋯ The preferred method of handling low-velocity gunshot wounds to the penis and anterior urethral includes debridement of superficial wounds, repair of cavernosal defects, and primary repair of urethral injuries wherein tissue loss is not extensive to result in high-potency rates and lower rates of urethral stricture disease.