Civilian Gun Shot Wounds Associated With Spinal Injuries

This study looks at the outcomes for people who have suffered spinal injuries from gunshot wounds (GSW). The goal was to understand how these injuries affect a person's ability to move, control their bowels and bladder, and overall improvement. The researchers reviewed the cases of 51 patients treated at a Level 1 Trauma Center over a period of 14 years. They looked at factors like the location of the injury, the severity of the spinal cord damage, and how well the patients were able to walk and function at a later follow-up. The study found that most patients did not show significant improvement in their ability to walk, and many remained wheelchair-bound. The severity of the initial spinal cord injury was a strong predictor of long-term outcomes.

• 1
  Most patients with spinal GSW did not experience clinical improvement in their ambulatory status, with the majority having severe injuries (ASIA A).
• 2
  A significant proportion of patients were wheelchair-bound at the latest follow-up, and this was associated with the severity of the initial spinal cord injury (ASIA A or B).
• 3
  The presence of neurogenic bowel or bladder dysfunction was also associated with more severe initial spinal cord injuries.