Firearm injury epidemiology in children and youth in Ontario, Canada: a population-based study

Gunshot Abdominal Injuries: A Report of Two Cases and a Review of the Literature

Abdominal injuries in children caused by guns are a rare clinical entity globally. But, in countries with undefined legal regulations and in war zones, urban violence is a tremendous social problem among older children and adolescents. This manuscript provides details regarding two cases of severe gunshot injuries in young children. The injuries were very complicated and included damage to the parenchymatous and hollow organs and major blood vessels. The clinical presentation on admission was severe and dramatic, but the patients survived. However, one patient developed numerous complications that required repeated surgical interventions and long treatment. This article provides a detailed description of injuries and how to treat them. Patient care requires a multidisciplinary approach, and the initial decision on further treatment depends on the patient's hemodynamic stability.

Fractures in Children Due to Firearm Activity

The purpose of this study was to investigate fracture patterns due to pediatric firearm injuries. The data used was from the US Firearm Injury Surveillance Study 1993–2019. Over these 27 years, there were 19,033 children with fractures due to firearm activity with an average age of 12.2 years; 85.2% were boys and the firearm was a powder type in 64.7%. The finger was the most common fracture location, while the tibia/fibula was the most common location for those admitted to the hospital. Children ≤ 5 years of age sustained more skull/face fractures; most spine fractures occurred in the 11–15-year age group. The injury was self-inflicted in 65.2% of the non-powder and 30.6% of the powder group. The injury intent was an assault in 50.0% of the powder and 3.7% of the non-powder firearm group. Powder firearms accounted for the majority of the fractures in the ≤5 and 11–15 year-olds, non-powder firearms accounted for the majority of the fractures in the 6–10 year-olds. Injuries occurring at home decreased with increasing age; there was an increase in hospital admissions over time. In conclusion, our findings support the need for safe storage of firearms in the home away from children. This data will be helpful to assess any changes in prevalence or demographics with future firearm legislation or other prevention programs. The increasing acuity of firearm-associated injuries seen in this study is detrimental to the child, impacts familial wellbeing, and results in significant financial costs to society.

Fatal and non-fatal firearm-related injuries in Canada, 2016-2020: a population-based study using three administrative databases

BACKGROUND

Firearms are a substantial cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in Canada and globally, though evidence from contexts other than the USA is relatively limited. We examined deaths, hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits due to firearm-related injuries in Canada to identify population groups at increased risk of fatal and non-fatal outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based study using three national administrative databases on deaths, hospitalizations, and ED visits. ICD-10 codes were used to identify firearm-related injuries from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2020. Fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries were classified as suicide/self-harm, homicide/assault, unintentional, undetermined or legal intervention injuries. We analyzed the data with counts, rates and proportions, stratified by sex, age group, province/territory, and year.

RESULTS

Over the 5-year period, we identified 4005 deaths, 3169 hospitalizations, and 2847 ED visits related to firearm injuries in various jurisdictions in Canada. Males comprised the majority of fatal and non-fatal injury cases. The highest rates of fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries were among 20- to 34-year-olds. The leading cause of fatal firearm injuries was self-harm (72.3%). For non-fatal firearm hospitalizations and ED visits, assault (48.8%) and unintentional injuries (62.8%) were the leading causes of injury. Rates varied by province and territory.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that males comprised the majority of fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries in Canada. The rates of both fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries were highest among the 20- to 34-year-old age group. This comprehensive overview of the epidemiology of firearm injuries in Canada provides baseline data for ongoing surveillance and policy evaluation related to public health interventions.

A population-based study on the epidemiology of firearm-related injury in Nova Scotia

OBJECTIVE

Firearm-related trauma is a significant cause of preventable mortality. In 2020, Nova Scotia experienced the largest mass shooting in Canadian history. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of firearm-related injury and death in Nova Scotia and to assess for factors associated with mortality.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study of all major trauma patients in Nova Scotia who sustained firearm-related injuries between 2001 and 2020 was conducted. Data was collected from the Nova Scotia Trauma Registry and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service. Injury rates were evaluated over time, by age/sex, and by intent (assault/homicide, self-harm, other), and were mapped by municipality. Characteristics of survivors and non-survivors were compared using t-tests and chi-square analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model was created to assess for predictors of mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 776 firearm-related injuries occurred over the 19-year study period, for an overall age- and sex-adjusted firearm injury rate of 4.44 per 100,000 population. Patients ranged in age from 6 to 92 years (mean 45.0±19.2 years) and most were male (95.6%; 742/776). Injuries were predominantly self-inflicted (65%; 504/776). The majority of patients died from their injuries (72%; 558/776); 64% (497/776) died at the scene. The overall age- and sex-adjusted firearm mortality rate was 3.18 per 100,000. Most non-survivors had injuries that were self-inflicted (83.2%; 464/558). Increasing age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04) and increasing Injury Severity Score (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07-1.15) were associated with greater likelihood of mortality. Activation of the trauma team was associated with survival (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.02-0.10).

CONCLUSION

Trauma patients with firearm-related injuries were predominantly male and most injuries were self-inflicted among middle-aged to older patients. Younger patients tended to be victims of homicide/assault and were more likely to survive their injuries.

Case Report: Accidental firearm injury during trophy hunting and the role of paramedics in managing such cases at rural health posts in Nepal

Possession of a firearm without a certified valid license is against Nepalese law. Following a decade-long civil war, Nepal government issued stringent laws not allowing public to possess firearms without a valid reason, despite bearing a license. However, there are people who possess and use firearms for hunting purposes. The present case reports an accidental death of a teenage boy who used a musket for hunting. The present case highlights the fact that despite these stringent laws, illegal possession of arms for trophy hunting is still prevalent in rural Nepal. Furthermore, this study aims to highlight the importance of paramedics in early intervention, stabilization and transport of the sick and injured to the hospital in emergency situations. Also, recruitment of paramedics in the ambulance service might have prevented untimely death in this particular case.