[Combat gunshot skull and brain injuries].

UNLABELLED

There have been over 15 ended and ongoing armed conflicts in the world between 2014 and 2020. The total number of irrecoverable losses in these conflicts exceeded 800 000 people. In modern conflicts, gunshot head wounds account for 37.4% of sanitary losses of surgical profile. These injuries are characterized by high mortality rate. Changes in fighting nature entail changes in structure of wounds and treatment approaches.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze treatment strategy and features of surgical interventions for combat gunshot head injuries considering literature data for the period from 2014 to 2020.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed the PubMed and eLibrary databases using the following keywords: head gunshot wound, traumatic brain injury, head trauma, combat trauma, wartime injury. We selected the reviews, original articles and case reports devoted to head gunshot wound management for the period 2014-2020. Manuscripts in Russian, Ukrainian and English with available abstract and/or full-text article were reviewed. Data on the incidence and structure of craniocerebral injuries, mortality and treatment strategy were analyzed.

RESULTS

We found 24 publications matching searching criteria. The majority of manuscripts were devoted to craniocerebral wounds received by combatants and civilians during the hostilities in the south-east of Ukraine (7 manuscripts), in Iraq and Afghanistan (4 manuscripts), as well as in the Syrian Arab Republic (12 manuscripts). Craniocerebral wounds occupy a leading position in overall structure of gunshot wounds and result the highest mortality compared to other wounds. There is a tendency towards the prevalence of bullet wounds over splinter wounds.

CONCLUSION

Modern wars and armed conflicts are characterized by changes in the structure of gunshot wounds. Craniocerebral injuries are ones of the most severe and characterized by high mortality. Data on their incidence and structure of gunshot craniocerebral wounds are advisable to be used in planning and organizing care for the wounded, as well as for development of preventive measures.