Medicolegal Evaluation of Firearm Injuries Pattern (Fatal and Nonfatal) in Qena Governorate, Egypt during the Years 2010 and 2011 (a Retrospective Study)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut

2 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo

3 Qena Medicolegal Department, Ministry of Justice, Qena

Abstract

This retrospective study was carried out to evaluate and compare the pattern of firearm injuries in Qena Governorate during the years 2010 and 2011 (before and after the 25th January Egyptian revolution) based on examination of medicolegal reports belong to cases of firearm injuries which referred to the Medicolegal Department of Ministry of Justice, in Qena Governorate. Firearm injuries were 356 and 448 cases which represented 38.56% and 40.7% of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. Most of injuries occurred in males which represented 95.5% and 96 % of total cases and the highest percentage of victims was in the age group 21-30 years which represented 42.41% and 42.18% of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. The highest percentage of cases among regions of the Governorate was in Deshna center which represented 20.2% and 20.3% of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. Most of cases occurred in summer months which represented 30.34% and 33% of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. Long rifled weapons constituted the highest percentage of used weapons which represented 87.4% and 96.4 % of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. The most common site for entrance wounds was the extremities which represented 85.67% and 81.2%of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. Most cases were due to perpendicular firing which represented 84.5% and 88% of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. The head and chest injuries constituted the highest percentage of causes of death which represented 42.1% and 37% of total cases in year 2010 while they represented 40.7% and 31.6% of total cases in year 2011 respectively. Fatal cases represented 5.3% and 18.1% of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively while the nonfatal cases represented 94.7% and 81.9% of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. Permanent infirmities occurred in 7.1% and 8.7% of nonfatal cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. As regard the manner of injuries, homicidal injuries represented 89.6 % and 87.5%, accidental injury represented 8.9% and 11.8%, suicidal injury represented 1.5% and 0.7% of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. As regard motives of injuries revenge was the commonest motive for injuries which represented 54.7% and 44.6% of total cases then dispute in 32.95% and 41.47% of total cases in years 2010 and 2011 respectively. This study concluded that the percentage of firearm injuries was increased in year 2011 than year 2010 due to absence of security role and presence of unlicensed weapons. Minimization of firearm injuries necessitates activation of police role, enforcement of law in prevention of possession and trafficking of unlicensed weapons as well as strengthen the active role of conciliation and dispute resolution committees in the community.

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