Patterns of War-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries and Predictors of Mortality Among Civilians During the Syrian Armed Conflict.

Background And Objectives: High-velocity weapons were used against unshielded civilians during the Syrian armed conflict, leading to a variety of combat-related traumatic brain injuries with high fatality and morbidity. Because of the lack of data in the literature about the management and outcomes of similar injuries, we aimed in this study to characterize shrapnel and gunshot injuries in this vulnerable group and to describe the association between the mechanisms, site, and type of injury and the outcomes.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study on new traumatic brain injuries in civilians who presented alive to the neurosurgery department at Damascus Hospital between 2014 and 2017.

War-related traumatic brain injuries during the Syrian armed conflict in Damascus 2014-2017: a cohort study and a literature review.

Background: The decade-long Syrian armed conflict killed or injured more than 11% of the Syrian population. Head and neck injuries are the most frequent cause of war-related trauma, about half of which are brain injuries. Reports about Syrian brain trauma victims were published from neighboring countries; However, none are available from Syrian hospitals.

Penetrating abdominal injuries during the Syrian war: Patterns and factors affecting mortality rates.

Background: A large number of innocent Syrians were injured or killed during the years of war. This retrospective study investigates the differences in patterns of injury and factors affecting the mortality rate in 324 patients coming to Damascus Hospital with penetrating abdominal trauma, and illustrates the difficulties of diagnosis and decision making in crisis situations.

Methods: A retrospective study was registered from patient's records between October 2012 and June 2013 in Damascus Hospital.