Civilian craniocerebral gunshot injuries in a developing country: presentation, injury characteristics, prognostic indicators, and complications.

Background: Civilian craniocerebral gunshot injuries (CGIs) are rare but increasing in incidence in the developing world and there is scare literature on presentation, injury characteristics, prognostic indicators, and complications of brain trauma due to projectiles.

Methods: A retrospective review of 51 civilian patients with CGI who presented to the Aga Khan University Hospital between 1998 and 2011 was carried out. Presentation, injury characteristics, and complications were analyzed with emphasis on outcomes and prognostic indicators.