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Metas de Enfermería

Metas de Enfermería

JUNIO 2008 N° 5 Volumen 11

Firearm or gunshot injuries

Section: Hands on

How to quote

Campo Campo M, de la Cuadra Álvarez M, Pérez Sanz MI. Heridas por arma de fuego. Metas de Enferm jun 2008; 11(5): 62-68

Authors

María Campo Campo1, Marta de la Cuadra Álvarez1, María Isabel Pérez Sanz2

Position

Diplomada en Enfermería. Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid.1, Diplomada en Enfermería. Licenciada en Antropología.

Contact address

Hospital Universitario La Paz. Urgencias Hospital General. Pº de la Castellana, 261. 28046 Madrid.

Contact email: mariacampocampo@hotmail.com

Abstract

The severity of firearm injuries is a direct result of their mass, shape, speed, tissue resistance, viscoeleastic properties, trajectory and stability of the bullet and the kinetic energy released at the time of impact. The aforementioned factors also determine the treatment to administer (safe for injuries involving the face and neck, pleura, peritoneum, dura matter and joints) which would normally involve the primary closure of the wound after 4 to 6 days, when inflammation has gone down and the risks of devitalisation and infection are lower. The care of a wounded person, whichever the culprit, requires the attention of a multidisciplinary team in which nursing professionals play a relevant role. Because of this, it appears appropriate to review our knowledge on physiopathology and treatment of wounds caused by firearm in order to implement proper nursing care in this type of patients, attempting to improve the quality of care provided. This paper will mainly focus on terminal ballistics or wound ballistics as it is the most closely related to the scope of health interest.

Keywords:

injury by firearm or gunshot; bullet; ballistics

Versión en Español

Título:

Heridas por arma de fuego