The Journal of Surgical Research featured “The Disturbing Findings of Pediatric Firearm Injuries From the National Trauma Data Bank: 2010-2016” on the cover of the March issue.

Study authors include Children's of Alabama Pediatric Surgery Fellows Joseph R. Esparaz M.D., and Alicia Waters M.D.; Program Manager Michelle S. Mathis, MPH; Division of Pediatric Surgery Director Mike K. Chen, M.D., MBA; Department of Surgery Vice Chair of Faculty Development Elizabeth A. Beierle, M.D.; Division of Pediatric Surgery Associate Professor Robert T. Russell, M.D., MPH.  

The article discusses trauma as the leading cause of pediatric and adolescent morbidity and mortality related to firearms. 

The data used in this study was maintained by the  American College of Surgeons from the National Data Bank. The study included 46,039 pediatric patients who sustained firearm injuries with the median age of the group being 17 years old. 

76 percent of injuries were related to assaults, 14 percent were unintentional, 5 percent were self-inflicted, and 5 percent were undetermined. The overall mortality of pediatric patients who sustained firearm injuries was nearly 12 percent.  

The study concluded younger populations sustained higher mortality rates from pediatric firearms injuries. Researchers suggested strategies to mitigate pediatric firearm injuries included, strict child access prevention laws and enforced gun storage violations. Enactment of these child-restrictive strategies could assist in reducing firearms and health outcomes among youth populations.  

UAB Department of Surgery faculty were also featured in the April issue, giving the department a two-month cover article streak. To read the full research article, click here