Objective: To describe the incidence and manner of nonfatal firearm injuries in Rawalpindi District

Study design: Observational retrospective study

Place and Duration: District Head Quarters Hospital Rawalpindi. Duration of 6 months, from July 2020 to Dec 2020.

Methodology: Total 82 patients with nonfatal firearm injuries were included. After approval from ERC committee of DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi, data was obtained from the duplicate copies of medicoleagal reports kept at the Forensic Medicine department t of IIMCT. These reports were carried out by cross ponding author and the demonstrators of Forensic Medicine department of IIMCT. The data was entered on a pre-designed Performa having variables such as demographics, time & place of death, region of body involved, weapon used & month of the year.

Results: A total of 82 nonfatal firearm injuries were reported during these 6 months. 87% of the victims of were males encountering injuries 1 to 11 in number with an average of 3 injuries per person. 3o% of these injuries were received on the upper trunk, 32% on the lower trunk, 16% the lower limbs, 13% the upper limb, 3% the head and neck and 6% on the other regions. 68% of the injuries were lacerations, an exit wound was detected in 19% of cases and in 13% only entry wounds were found. Tattooing and burning of the adjacent skin were common in wounds on the upper and lower trunk while comminuted intra articular and shaft fractures were important varieties in the limbs. 86% of the victims were vitally stable, others being critically unstable with GCS ranging till 6/15.

Conclusion: The public health issue of firearm-related injuries continues to be a concern. The necessity for a district-based, nationwide reporting system for fatal and nonfatal firearm-related injuries is critical. In Pakistan, these data could be used in the design, implementation, and assessment of preventative programs.

Key words: Non fatal, Firearm injuries, Regional injuries