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After the shooting stops: follow-up on victims of an assault rifle attack
J D Richardson1, D Davidson, F B Miller
1Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky, USA.
Objective:
To determine long-term medical, social, and psychological outcome of survivors of a multiple-shooting mass casualty disaster.
Design:
A case-study review was performed 42 months after injury involving chart reviews and patient interviews.
Participants:
Survivors of a multiple shooting.
Main Outcome Measures:
The need for primary operative treatment, subsequent operations, and medical treatment related to the injuries, current work status, and psychological impact of injury was determined.
Results:
Thirteen patients required operation initially; 12 are long-term survivors. Eight have returned to work. Most of the victims reported experiencing psychological and emotional problems.
Conclusions:
Despite a well-functioning trauma system that maximized survival from devastating injury, considerable long-term morbidity and disability persists. Efforts at prevention of mass casualties seem to be the only potential solution.