Emergency Medicine: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

An Autopsy Based Study of Pattern of Firearm Injuries in Karachi, Pakistan

Capt Farhat Mirza, Abdul Wasay Khan, Laraib Malik, Mehreen Malik and Kauser Parveen

To assess the pattern of fire arm injuries in Karachi amongst medico legal deaths autopsied at all the three mortuaries of Karachi that is, Civil Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre. It is a descriptive form of study which involves deaths due to firearm injuries and underwent autopsy in three major medico legal centers of Karachi that is Civil Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2012. Variables include basic demographics, site and frequency of firearm injuries and also the manner of death. In our study out of 2006 autopsies performed 47.05% (n=944) medico legal deaths were due to fire arms. Out of them 98.62% (n=931) were homicidal and v1.37% (n=13) were suicidal. The age group most affected was of 16-30 years 50.52% (n=477). 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), chest 28.49% (n=269), abdomen 7.83% (n=74), head and chest in 3.49% (n=33) (and head chest and abdomen in 4.66% (n=44) cases. The study concluded that homicidal firearm injuries contributed as one of the foremost cause of death. Majority of the victims were identified and were males. The age group of 16-30 years was most affected. The most commonly targeted body part was head.