Ventricular Injury following Cranial Gunshot Wounds: Clinical Study

Abstract

Gunshot wounds to the head are usually fatal injuries, despite all medical and surgical interventions. Ventricular injury is a poor prognostic factor-for penetrating cranial gunshot wounds. Intraventricular hemorrhage and ventricular lacerations are the main components of such injuries. The incidence, management, and outcomes of cases of ventricular injury secondary to cranial gunshot wounds that were treated during a 9-year period at Gülhane Military Medical Academy were examined. The study group consisted of 67 consecutive patients who were admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery with the diagnosis of ventricular injury, with different penetration sites. The patients had been injured by either bullets or shrapnel. Surgical treatment was performed for all patients with ventricular injuries and 22 (32.8%) died. Ventricular injury in cranial gunshot wounds is a complex severe type of trauma that requires serious treatment. Early radiological diagnosis and accurate treatment frequently had lifesaving roles for these patients.