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Ballistic Trauma in Pregnancy

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Ryan's Ballistic Trauma

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Abstract

During peacetime, trauma is consistently listed as the most common cause of nonobstetric complications of pregnancy leading to some degree of morbidity and regrettably mortality in approximately 7% of all pregnancies.1,2 The maternal mortality from penetrating injuries is less in pregnancy-4% as compared with 13% in the nonpregnant state.2 Fetal mortality, however, is high approaching 42–71%, depending on penetrating mechanism of stab versus missile, respectively.3,4 This is due in part to shielding of maternal viscera. This number undoubtedly increases in war-torn regions of the world such as the Middle East. Ballistic trauma is challenging to study in western societies thanks to relative peace. The nearest to ballistic trauma that Western physicians face is with firearms. In 2005, The United States reported 30,694 persons died from firearm injuries, accounting for 17.7% of all injury deaths. Pregnant women are an increasing part of that statistic. Firearm suicide and homicide, the two major component causes, accounted for 55.4% and 40.2% of these deaths, respectively.1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Michael J. Socher

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  1. Michael J. Socher
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  2. Peter E. Nielsen
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Correspondence to Michael J. Socher .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Surgery, Div. Traumatology &, University of Pennsylvania Medical Ctr., Spruce St. 3400, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Adam J. Brooks

  2. , Academic Department of Military Surgery, Frimley Park Foundation Trust, Surrey, GU16 7UJ, United Kingdom

    Jon Clasper

  3. Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Institute of Research & Development, Acad. Dept. of Military Surgery & Trauma, Vincent Drive, Birmingham, B15 2SQ, United Kingdom

    Mark Midwinter

  4. Birmingham Research Park, Acad. Dept. of Military Emergency Med., Vincent Drive, Birmingham, B15 2SQ, United Kingdom

    Timothy J. Hodgetts

  5. Inst. Research & Development, Dept. Military Anaesthesia, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SQ, United Kingdom

    Peter F. Mahoney

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Socher, M.J., Nielsen, P.E. (2011). Ballistic Trauma in Pregnancy. In: Brooks, A., Clasper, J., Midwinter, M., Hodgetts, T., Mahoney, P. (eds) Ryan's Ballistic Trauma. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-124-8_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-124-8_36

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-123-1

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