Demographics, Radiological Findings, and Predictors of Prolonged Hospitalization in Civilian Gunshot Wound Patients

This study aims to characterize the demographic, clinical, and radiological features of gunshotwound (GSW) patients as well as identify predictors of prolonged hospitalization. In this retrospective study, a consecutive sampling method was used, including all patients withGSWs in any anatomical region. Data collection included demographic and clinical information, radiologicalfindings, treatment specifics, and outcome variables, such as hospitalization length of stay (LOS) as the primaryoutcome. To identify predictive factors associated with prolonged LOS, logistic regression analysis was used. We studied 212 GSW cases, including 95.8% were men and 4.2% were women. The mean age of thestudied group was 30.17±7.80 years. GSWs occurred in extremities (80.2%), abdomen (9.0%), thorax (4.7%),and head or neck (5.2%). Two patients (0.9%) had both abdominal and thoracic GSWs. The most prevalentradiological study was an X-ray (83.0%). Patients with head and neck GSWs had the longest emergencydepartment stay, while patients with abdominal GSW patients had the shortest (p=0.068). The highest ratesof blood product transfusion were observed in abdominal GSWs (63.2%), emergency surgery (63.2%), andICU admission (42.1%). Head and neck GSWs had the longest hospitalization LOS (7.5 days). Longer LOSwas significantly associated with abnormalities in radiological findings, receiving blood products, and ICUadmission (p≤0.001). Significant predictors of prolonged LOS were major abnormalities in radiological findings[odds ratio (OR)=5.3; 95% confidence interval (CI):2.8-10.2], head and neck GSWs (OR=6.1; 95% CI:1.2-31.9),and blood product transfusion (OR=4.1; 95% CI: 1.0-16.3). This study provides insights into factors influencing prolonged hospitalization in GSW patients,highlighting the importance of radiological findings, head and neck injuries, and blood product transfusion.