Characterization of patients with fractures produced by firearm projectile

Abstract

The fractures produced by a firearm projectile are defined as high-energy bone injuries with destruction of soft tissues and a high degree of contamination, according to the classification of the exposed fractures; they can lead to complications such as temporary or permanent disabilities. A retrospective descriptive study that characterized 82 patients with fractures produced by firearm projectile in the Regional Hospital of Zacapa between January 2013 and December 2017. The most frequent years of cases were in 2016 and 2017 at 26% and 27%, respectively. The male gender prevailed in 89%, in ages of 19-40 years in 70%, they referred to being traders in 26%, coming from the municipality of Zacapa in 46%, the main circumstance was the confrontation of people with weapons of fire in 32% and schedules from 18:01-24:00 in 54% of cases. The type of injury in the lower limbs predominated in 56%, with more frequency in femoral fractures in 20%, surgical treatment in 90% of the cases and complications in 37%, where according to the type of fracture and complications were unable to work for more than a month 54% and permanently 2% according to the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala. These data could attribute that male gender in these ages is exposed to work occasionally at night and may need to use firearms as a defense or attack, as well as being victims of assault, violence or stray bullets.