Craniocerebral missile injuries

Gun shot wounds to the brain are among the most devastating causes of morbidity and mortality in the civilian population. The majority of the victims will not survive and for a great number of survivors life becomes an uphill battle with permanent deficits and complications. While the fundamental surgical care of these patients is essentially unchanged, our scientific understanding of the pathophysiological changes and the post-injury care of the victims has been evolving. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the current clinical and laboratory advances in understanding and treating gun shot injuries to the brain.