Objective:

To characterize demographic and environmental factors related to spinal injury from firearms. 

Background:

In 2022, 48,204 people died from firearm-related injuries in the United States, which makes an average of 1 death every 11 minutes. Gunshot wounds (GSW) are responsible for 16-25% of all spinal cord injuries. Physical disabilities are dependent on the level of injury, with the thoracic spine being the most involved level, followed by cervical, then lumbar. This study is a retrospective study to identify risk factors, both demographic and environmental, in an effort to reduce SCI related to GSW.

Design/Methods:

This is a retrospective study of patients admitted to a Level 1 Trauma Center in the Houston area with an injury to the spine and spinal cord injury (SCI) from a firearm.

Results:

100 patients over 18 years old admitted with a firearm related spinal cord injury from January 2018 to December 2020 were identified. The average age was 31, and 88% were black males. Blacks were more likely to have a history of marijuana use (p=0.037). The most common cause of firearm-related spinal injuries was intentional discharge (91%). GSW spine injuries occurred mostly in the street (29.1%), followed by in the patients’ homes (19.8%), parking lot (15.1%), and car (14%). Drive-by shootings caused 11% of these injuries. Overall mortality was 32%. 49% were discharged home.

Conclusions:

Intentional discharge of a firearm, including assault and drive-by shootings, was the most common cause of firearm-related spine injury. While approximately 50% of GSW victims were survivors, mortality rate was 32%, with young black males with substance abuse being most at risk. Additional studies assessing spinal cord injuries related to firearms need to be executed to formulate prevention plans.