Ten years' experience with pediatric gunshot wounds

Gunshot wounds in children have become a significant source of morbidity and mortality in our community in the last 10 yr. One hundred eight children, 16 yr of age and younger, were admitted to the Pediatric Surgical Service for gunshot wounds during this period; only 1 child was admitted for a gunshot wound in the 10 yr preceding this review. Rapid resuscitation and triage of major injuries directly to the operating room achieved a 94% survival. Review of the circumstances of injury revealed that 42% of the gunshot wounds were inflicted by children and 40% were known to have been intentional. Only 20% of the patients had known drug involvement; in general this was involvement in drug selling, not in drug abuse. Social service intervention can offer significant benefit to these children, but ultimately gun control laws with strict enforcement are needed to stop this type of violence toward children.