Pattern of firearm injuries seen in patients admitted at the Kenyatta National Hospital over a two-year period, with emphasis on injuries to the maxillofacial region

Abstract

Introduction: The widespread and indiscriminate use of firearms has drawn increasing concern especially in the past decade, though global data on the impact of these weapons on health remains scanty. Available data suggest that over 300,000 people are killed annually and millions of survivors are left with permanent physical, social and mental disabilities. Head injury and cervical spine injury are among the serious complications encountered in patients with severe facial injury. Often victims require expensive and time consuming surgery followed by weeks or months of hospitalization and rehabilitation, making this a major public health concern. Currently available literature on firearm injury is largely based on data collected in war situations with minimal reporting on civilian injury patterns, hence the need for civilian based studies.