A Medico-Legal Study of Patterns of Firearm Injuries in Baghdad

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Firearms are widespread weapons and still in common use to keep peace
and\or to ignite wars. For more than 30 years the Iraqi nation as a whole was suffering
from wars, terrorism and conflicts. The children and youth have been so greatly affected
by these unique dire conditions and the burden of misuse of such weapons may lead to
catastrophic consequences to whole society both physically and psychologically and even
death of an individual(s) affecting the present and future of the community. Loss of youth
results in loss of energetic work force on one hand and bread earners on the other, both
posing great economic burden on the national economy.
Objectives: To assess the pattern of firearm injuries in Baghdad amongst medico-legal
deaths autopsied at the Medico-legal Institute of Baghdad within a period of six months
from the 1st of October 2014 to the 1st of April 2015.
Methods: It is a case-series record study which involves deaths due to firearm injuries.
Deaths of firearms underwent autopsy were 944. Variables include basic demographics
(age and sex), the anatomical site of injury and manner of death whether homicidal or
suicidal.
Results: In the present study out of 2006 autopsies performed, 47.05% (n=944) medicolegal
deaths were due to firearms. Out of them 98.62% (n=93) were homicidal and 1.37%
(n=13) were suicidal. The age group most affected was of 16-30 years representing
50.52% (n=477) and 65.78% (n=621) had unknown identity. Male to female ratio was 18:1
(M=896 and F=48). The most commonly targeted parts of the body in order of frequency
were, head 44.17% (n=417), abdomen 28.49% (n=269), head and chest in 3.49% (n=33)
while head, chest and abdomen in 4.66% (n=44).
Conclusion: The study concluded that homicidal firearm injuries contributed as one of the
foremost cause of the medico-legal death. Majority of the victims were unidentified and
were males. The age group of 16-30 years was most affected. The most commonly
targeted body part was head