Las heridas por arma de fuego (HAF) constituyen un problema en la población pediátrica. En 1995 se publicaron los primeros datos sobre HAF graves en niños uruguayos, presentándose mayoritariamente en varones, media 14 años, predominando mecanismo no intencional en domicilio.

En 2012, una segunda serie, observó cambio de perfil en las circunstancias de estas lesiones: adolescentes varones, media 13 años, contextos violentos, extradomicilio.

Se percibe un incremento de las HAF en el mismo centro.

Objetivos: Describir las características de consultas por HAF, durante un período de 5 años, Departamento de Emergencia Pediátrica (DEP), Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell (CHPR).

Comparar las HAF graves con datos previos del mismo DEP.

Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo. Población: < 15 años asistidos en DEP-CHPR. Fuente de datos: historia clínica electrónica. Variables: edad, sexo, circunstancias del evento, sitio de lesión, destino desde DEP, severidad.

HAF grave: ingreso a Cuidados Intensivos o Cirugía de Emergencia. Circunstancia del evento: intencional, no intencional (proyectil no dirigido voluntariamente a la víctima). Se registró el protocolo de investigación en el Ministerio de Salud. Se present al Comité de Ética de la Institución.

Análisis estadístico: programa EPIINFO 7.

Resultados y discusión: n= 66. Varones: 55/66. Media edad: 12 años. Extradomiciliario 38/66. Circunstancias: 24 intencional-violencia, 21 no intencional-violencia, 3 manipulación arma, 18 desconocida. Severidad: leves 40, severas 26. Hubo 26 HAF graves para un total de 259.974 consultas en este DEP. Destino: 19 cuidados moderados, 21 domicilio, 25 cuidados intensivos o quirófano, 1 morgue. Dos fallecidos.

Conclusiones: Se mantiene el perfil reportado previamente, predominando adolescents varones, situaciones violentas, extradomicilio, menor edad.

Se evidencia aumento de las HAF graves en esta población.

Firearm injury (FAI) is a growing concern in the pediatric population. In 1995, the first data on severe FAI in Uruguayan children were published, revealing a predominantly male distribution with a mean age of 14, and mostly occurring as unintentional incidents in the home. In 2012, a second case series identified a change in the profile of these injuries, now predominantly affecting male adolescents with a mean age of 13, occurring in violent circumstances outside the home. A considerable increase in FAI was observed at the same center.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of FAI seen at the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) of Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell (CHPR) over a 5-year period and to compare cases of severe FAI with data from a historical cohort seen at the same PED.

Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted including patients < 15 years seen at PED-CHPR. Data source: Electronic medical records. We analyzed age, sex, circumstances surrounding the incident, location of injury, destination from PED, and severity.

Severe FAI was defined as requiring admission to intensive care or emergency surgery. Circumstances of the incident were categorized as intentional or unintentional (projectile not intentionally directed at the victim).

The research protocol was registered with the Ministry of Health and submitted to the Institutional Ethics Committee for approval. For statistical analysis EPIINFO 7 was used.

Results: 66 cases were included; 55 of whom were males. Mean age was 12 years. Overall, 38 cases occurred outside the home. Circumstances were intentional in 24, and unintentional in 21, weapon manipulation in 3, and unknown in 18. Of the cases, 40 were mild and 26 severe among a total 25,9974 visits to this PED.

Destinations after treatment at the PED were moderate care in 19, home in 21, intensive care or operating room in 25, and the morgue in 1. Two patients died.

Conclusions: The reported profile remained consistent, characterized by a predominance of underage male adolescents involved in violent situations outside the home. An increase in severe FAI is observed in this population.