Outcomes from Firearm Related Brain Injuries
Categories: Firearm Related Brain Injury
What are the outcomes for persons with penetrating brain injury from a gunshot wound?
Past Studies
Past Studies associate firearm-related brain injuries with high death rates and poor outcomes for survivors. Persons at greatest risk for
This Study
This Study examined 442 persons who sustained intentional and unintentional gunshot wounds over a
This study found that persons who received firearm related traumatic brain injury had very high initial death rates. Persons who survived and were able to participate in rehabilitation had good potential for functional improvements. As with past studies, young African- American males had the highest percentage of
Who May Be Affected By These Findings
Persons with brain injury, service providers, advocates, and funders.
Caveats
The authors recognize that ethical controversies may arise in healthcare when allocating expensive, aggressive medical treatment. The authors state that the possible good outcomes for persons with
Bottom Line
These authors agree with previous studies that the death rate is high for persons who sustain a severe brain injury from a gunshot wound. However, they found good functional improvement can be made by persons who survive and participate in inpatient rehabilitation. Many survivors can achieve functional levels necessary to return to the community. The authors suggest new outcome scales need to be developed that better evaluate functional levels and “quality of life”. The authors state that the bleak prognosis previously given to persons who survive penetrating brain injury needs to be re-evaluated.
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Find This Study
Zafonte, R. D.; Wood, D. L.; Harrison-Felix, C. L.;