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- Injuries from blank cartridge shots in suicide attempts within the South Korean military: a case series of five patients
- Jeong Il Joo, Changsin Lee, Kyungwon Lee
- J Trauma Inj. 2024;37(4):262-267. Published online December 4, 2024
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2024.0037
- 1,614 View
- 51 Download
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Abstract
PDF - Purpose
Blank cartridges are designed to produce the sound and gas flare of a gunshot without firing a bullet. However, blank cartridge shots (BCS) can still cause injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. Within the South Korean military, most BCS-related injuries have occurred during suicide attempts. This study documents a case series of patients who sustained injuries from BCS during such attempts.
Methods
We examined the medical records of Korean soldiers at a military trauma center between April 2022 and April 2024 who had sustained injuries from BCS during suicide attempts. The analyzed data included general characteristics, injury site, surgical and psychiatric interventions, and length of hospitalization.
Results
The case series included five patients between 19 and 20 years old (mean age, 19.6±0.55 years). Four of these patients sustained self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the submandibular area, while one targeted the right temporal area. Although initial vital signs and laboratory findings were unremarkable, computed tomography scans revealed injuries from projectile gas and gunpowder, including burns, subcutaneous emphysema, and major structural damage. Cases 1 and 2 required emergency surgery for foreign body removal and debridement. The average length of hospitalization was 35.2±12.11 days. Patients were first admitted to the trauma surgery department for BCS injury management, and then transferred to the psychiatry department for emotional support. The average stay was 15.6±15.87 days in trauma surgery and 19.6±14.99 days in psychiatry.
Conclusions
This study highlights the consequences of BCS from suicide attempts in the South Korean military and provides valuable insights for medical personnel who may encounter patients with BCS injuries. -
SummaryCase ReportTOP
- Submental intubation using laparoscopic trocar in zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture surgery in Korea: a case report
- Hyejin Do, Chunui Lee, Hyeon Don Hong, Hyejin Hong, Hyun Kyo Lim, Sujin Kim
- J Trauma Inj. 2023;36(2):128-132. Published online December 21, 2022
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2022.0036
- 3,302 View
- 88 Download
- 1 Citations
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Abstract
PDF
- Submental intubation is an effective alternative technique for airway management in patients with maxillofacial trauma. Compared with tracheostomy, it is less invasive, but has risks associated with potential airway compromise such as hypoxia due to tube obstruction, collapse, and kinking. To shorten procedure time and ensure a reinforced tube lumen, we used a laparoscopic trocar as a new device for submental intubation. A 54-year-old male patient sustained a zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture and was scheduled to undergo open reduction and internal fixation. We performed intraoral intubation and made a small 1-cm incision at the submandibular midline. After dissection of the tissue from the incision site, a reinforced tube was passed using a 12-mm laparoscopic trocar. The procedure took about 5 minutes, and apnea time from disconnecting the breathing circuit and passing through the internal lumen of the trocar until it was reconnected to the ventilator was 1 minute 5 seconds. Using a laparoscopic trocar for submental intubation can reduce the time required for dissection, prevent luminal occlusion complications due to soft tissues or blood clots in the endotracheal tube, and decrease soft tissue damage.
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Summary
Citations
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- Revisiting submental intubation with modification, for complex maxillomandibular surgical repair: A case report
Sashini Kaushalya Godage, Samuel Peter Ang, Elie Ramly, Indranil Sinha, Kheng-Sze Chan
JCA Advances.2025; 2(2): 100114. CrossRef
Original Article- Epidemiology of Facial Bone Fractures During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Single Korean Level I Trauma Center Study
- Min Ji Kim, Kyung Min Yang, Hyoseob Lim
- J Trauma Inj. 2021;34(4):233-241. Published online December 24, 2021
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2021.0098
- 5,297 View
- 121 Download
- 5 Citations
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Abstract
PDF
Purpose The medical community has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The management of facial trauma patients has been affected by the patient capacity of emergency rooms. In this study, we share our experiences of facial trauma management during the social lockdown period and investigate the epidemiological changes in facial bone fractures.
Methods A total of 997 patients who presented to Ajou University Hospital Emergency Center and were evaluated by plastic or maxillofacial surgeons for facial trauma were included in this retrospective study. Our study design was a comparative study of two groups: the 2019 group (control) and the 2020 group (the experimental group that experienced social lockdown).
Results The total number of emergency room inpatients reflected the national pandemic trends with three peaks in patient numbers. According to these trends, facial bone fractures had two different low points in August 2020 and December 2020. A comparison of the 2019 and 2020 facial bone fractures did not show a statistically significant difference in the total number of patients. An analysis of the causes of trauma showed that domestic accidents increased in 2020 (30.92%;
p <0.001). Among the anatomical sites of facial injury in surgical patients, the frontozygomatic complex fracture increased the most in 2020 (p =0.018). Facial injuries with two separate sites of injury or with three or more involved sites also showed a significant increase in 2020 (p <0.001).Conclusions We demonstrated that the incidence of facial trauma patients correlated with the incidence of patients presenting to the emergency department and that facial trauma is inextricably related to multi-trauma cases. Domestic accidents and facial trauma with multiple anatomically involved sites are increasing trends that need more attention.
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Summary
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by- Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic on the Incidence, Etiology, Demographics, and Treatment of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma
F. Jeffrey Lorenz, Andrew J. Rothka, Heather K. Schopper, Jessyka G. Lighthall
Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.2025; 172(2): 444. CrossRef - COVID-19 Influenced the Epidemiology of Facial Trauma: A Narrative Review, 2020–2024
Gary R. Hoffman, Sophie K. M. Kelly
COVID.2025; 5(5): 69. CrossRef - Increasing Number of Facial Injury in Mangusada General Hospital, Bali: Prevalence and Epidemiology
Natassya Sandra Tillasman, Putu Indri Manikasari Mulya, Ratna Rayeni Natasha Roosseno
Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences.2024; 12(4): 536. CrossRef - Changes in Injury Pattern and Outcomes of Trauma Patients after COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Myungjin Jang, Mina Lee, Giljae Lee, Jungnam Lee, Kangkook Choi, Byungchul Yu
Healthcare.2023; 11(8): 1074. CrossRef - The Trend of Change in Oral and Maxillofacial Injuries of Pediatric Patients in the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Regional Emergency Medical Center and Dental Hospital Study
Suebin Choi, Chankue Park, Jonghyun Shin, Taesung Kim, Eungyung Lee
THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN ACADEMY OF PEDTATRIC DEN.2023; 50(3): 318. CrossRef
Case Report- Case Series: Successful Resuscitation of Severe Facial Injuries Caused by a Chainsaw
- Han Joo Choi
- J Trauma Inj. 2019;32(3):168-171. Published online September 30, 2019
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2019.027
- 12,666 View
- 170 Download
- 2 Citations
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Abstract
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The treatment outcome remains poor of severe facial injuries because of the high risk of compromised airway or massive bleeding. We experienced two successful treatment cases of severe facial injury by the chainsaw. A 52-year-male had his face injured by the chainsaw during his work. He was transferred to the Level I trauma center using the Doctor-Helicopter. During his flight, bleeding control was tried and the information was given to the trauma surgeons before his arrival. His consciousness was alert and the vital signs were stable. The crushing wound, mandible open fracture, deep laceration of tongue, lip, neck and arterial bleeding were noted around his mandible. Nasotracheal intubation was performed under the bronchoscope-guided. Emergency operation (open reduction & internal fixation, primary repair with neurorrhaphy) was performed. At 30 hospital days, he was discharged with facial palsy on left mandibular area. A 30-year-male had his face injured by the chainsaw. He was transferred to our Level I trauma center from the local hospital. The deep-mutiple lacerations on right upper eyelid and forehead with the bony exposure were noted. The vital signs were stable and emergency operation was performed. He was discharged at 20 hospital days. Bone loss or tissue loss were not devastating than we expected even though the injury was occurred by the chainsaw. Aggressive treatment including airway manipulation or bleeding control and maximal opportunity of therapy are absolutely needed.
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Summary
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by- Thoracoabdominal injury with evisceration from a chainsaw assault: a case report
Babatunde Abayomi Salami, Babatunde Adeteru Ayoade, El-Zaki Abdullahi Shomoye, Chigbundu Collins Nwokoro
Journal of Trauma and Injury.2022; 35(2): 118. CrossRef - Unusual Chainsaw Related Penetrating Neck Injury: Initial Management
& Surgical Repair, Case Report
Woohyen Jin, Sang-Wook Park, Seong Jun Won, Jung Je Park
Journal of Clinical Otolaryngology Head and Neck .2022; 33(4): 259. CrossRef
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