Medico-legal evaluation of firearm injuries during the period from 2005 to 2010 in the Suez Canal Area, Egypt: A retrospective study

Abstract

A retrospective study from 2005 to 2010 was carried out to evaluate firearm injuries and associated factors among their victims included cases referred to the Forensic Medicine Department, Ministry of Justice in Suez Canal Area. The total number of cases was 268. The total incidence in the Suez Canal Area was 10/100,000. Most of the victims were middle-aged males (259 cases; 96.6%). The male to female ratio was 28.8:1. One hundred and forty-four instances (53.7%) of firearm injuries occurred in the summer, with most of them happening at night (88 cases; 32.8%). Fatal injuries constituted 236 cases (88.1%), and most were homicides (176 cases; 65.7%). Thirty-six cases (13.4%) were accidents and 24 cases (9.0%) were suicides. The most common site of entry was the chest (67 cases; 25.0%), the head (53 cases; 19.8%). Automatic (machine) guns were responsible for 72 cases (26.9%). Locally made shotguns were responsible for 61 cases (22.8%) of firearm injuries; homemade guns represented 47 cases (17.5%). Air pistols were responsible for 20 cases (7.5%). These results support the argument that rigorous pursuit of campaign firearms without a license and arresting them is useful in reducing the number of firearm deaths in society and guns and air pistols should be banned.