Trends in pediatric firearm-related injuries over the past 10 years at an urban pediatric hospital.

PURPOSE

Firearm injuries are the second most common cause of trauma deaths in American children. We reviewed gunshot wounds treated at an urban children's hospital to determine the most likely time for injuries to occur over 10 years.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was completed for patients with a firearm injury from January 2003 to December 2012. Patients were excluded if over 17 years or readmitted. Demographics, injury circumstances, interventions, and outcomes were reviewed for 289 patients. Chi square and ANOVA analyses were completed. Alpha was chosen as p<0.05.

RESULTS

Mean age was 12 years, 74% were male and 80% African American. Unintentional injuries occurred in 26% and violence related in 72%. The most common months of injury were August and June, the least common November and October. Unintentional injuries were more likely to occur during the day and violence related injuries were more likely at night (p=0.01). The incidence was lowest 2008-2010 and highest in 2006 and 2011. Mortality was 3.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

We noted an increasing incidence of pediatric firearm related injuries in the last two years of the study with over half requiring operative intervention. Most injuries were violence related and occurred in a large city during summer months.