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Fémy F, Sultan-Dumenil N, Marciano E, Bokobza J, Chauvin A, Choquet C, Ogereau C, Delannoy Q, Juvin P, Feral-Pierssens AL. Injuries caused by defensive bullet launchers and resource utilization during the French yellow vests protests: A retrospective study. Am J Emerg Med 2023; 72:122-126. [PMID: 37523992 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2018, the French "Yellow Vest" social protest movement spread with weekly demonstrations resulting in confrontations between protesters and law enforcement. Non-lethal weapons, such as defensive bullet launchers (DBL) were used, and significant injuries have been reported through media, leading to public controversy regarding their use. These injuries are not well-known to civilian emergency physicians. The aim of this study is to describe the injuries caused by DBL among Emergency Department (ED) patients during these demonstrations and to identify the characteristics that required specialized care and hospital admission. METHODS A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 7 EDs of academic hospitals in Paris, France. Adult ED patients who presented with DBL injuries during "yellow vest" strikes between November 2018 and May 2019 were included. The primary outcome was the rate of DBL patients requiring hospital admission. We also compared the characteristics of the injuries and the care provided between the admitted patients and other DBL patients. RESULTS 152 patients were included. 17% were admitted to hospital, with 19% of them being transferred to intensive care units. 49% of all patients had head, face, eye or neck injuries including 4 cases of intracranial hemorrhage, 1 carotide dissection, 1 laryngeal edema, 1 pneumencephalus. 11% of all patients presented with multiple wounds, and 28% had fractures (77% of admitted patients vs 18%, p < 0.001). Surgery was required for 20% of all patients (62% of admitted patients vs 10%, p < 0.001). Maxillofacial surgery was performed on 38% of admitted patients, orthopedic surgery on 25%, and neurosurgery on 13%. No death were reported. CONCLUSION The use of DBL during the "yellow vest" civil strikes was associated with a high rate of head, face, eye or neck injuries among injured ED patients. Hospital admission was associated with a higher rate of fractures, with most of them requiring maxillofacial, orthopedic and neurosurgeries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Fémy
- IMPEC Federation, 103 boulevard Magenta, 75010 Paris, France; Emergency Department, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France; Toxicology and Chemical Risks Department, French Armed Forces Biomedical Institute, Base aérienne 217, 91220 Bretigny-Sur-Orges, France.
| | - Nour Sultan-Dumenil
- Emergency Department, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Eva Marciano
- Emergency Department, Ambroise Paré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 11 rue des menus, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Jérome Bokobza
- IMPEC Federation, 103 boulevard Magenta, 75010 Paris, France; Emergency Department, Cochin Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 rue du faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Anthony Chauvin
- IMPEC Federation, 103 boulevard Magenta, 75010 Paris, France; Emergency Department, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France.
| | - Christophe Choquet
- Emergency Department, Bichat Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France.
| | - Carl Ogereau
- Emergency Department, Saint-Louis Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 1 avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France.
| | - Quentin Delannoy
- IMPEC Federation, 103 boulevard Magenta, 75010 Paris, France; Emergency Department, Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 91 boulevard de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.
| | - Philippe Juvin
- Emergency Department, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, 21 rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, 75006 Paris, France.
| | - Anne-Laure Feral-Pierssens
- IMPEC Federation, 103 boulevard Magenta, 75010 Paris, France; SAMU 93 - Emergency Department, Avicenne Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 125 avenue de Stalingrad, 93000 Bobigny, France; LEPS UR 3412, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 74 rue Marcel Cachin, 93017 Bobigny, France.
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Hiquet J, Gromb-Monnoyeur S. Severe craniocerebral trauma with sequelae caused by Flash-Ball® shot, a less-lethal weapon: Report of one case and review of the literature. MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND THE LAW 2016; 56:237-240. [PMID: 26130748 DOI: 10.1177/0025802415587320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The use of Flash-Ball® as a non-lethal weapon by several special units within the police and police forces started in France in 1995. Little literature is available concerning injuries caused by Flash-Ball® shooting. However, we report the case of a healthy 34-year-old male victim of a Flash-Ball® shooting during a riot following a sports event. This young man presented serious craniocerebral injuries with a left temporal fracture, moderate cerebral oedema, fronto-temporal haemorrhagic contusion along with an extra-dural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring neurological and rehabilitation care for two months leaving important sequelae. Although the risk is obviously lower than with firearms, Flash-Ball® is nonetheless potentially lethal and may cause serious physical injuries, particularly after a shot to the head.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Hiquet
- Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Ethic and Medical Law, France
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