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Gunshot injuries as seen at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence, injury patterns, offender-victim characteristics, treatment and outcome of firearm-related injuries at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi.


DESIGN
Retrospective descriptive study.


SETTING
The Aga Khan Hospital, a major private hospital in Nairobi.


SUBJECTS
One hundred and seven patients who presented at the Aga Khan Hospital Accident and Emergency Department (January 1993-December 1998) with firearm injuries and were subsequently hospitalised. There were 97 males and 10 females aged four to 94 years. The mean age was 39 years.


RESULTS
The peak incidence was in the 40-49 year age group. The male to female ratio was 10:1. The victim offender was a thug, thief or robber in 74.7% of cases. Law enforcement officers were responsible for 9.4% of the injuries. The Injury Severity Scores (ISS) ranged from one to 32 with mean score of 8.25. Injuries involving the extremities were the most prevalent. There were 31 major operations performed. The complication rate was 35.5%. Six (6.5%) of these patients died.


CONCLUSION
Gunshot injuries cause profound morbidity and significant mortality. A wider and larger study needs to be undertaken to elucidate the true nature of firearm injuries.