Craniocerebral gunshot wounds in civilians. Report on 40 cases.

The Authors report an analysis on 40 cases of craniocerebral gunshot wounds treated in a civil hospital over a 8-year period. The important role of CT for a correct diagnosis and treatment planning is stressed even though patients with a G.C.S. lower than 4 die regardless of their CT findings; subdural and intracerebral hematomas are not a serious complication unless patient's neurological status is poor; timing of surgical treatment plays a major role in order to avoid infection of the wound.