Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
5. Uluslararası Turaz Akademi Kongresi, Samarqand, Özbekistan, 11 - 13 Eylül 2025, ss.769, (Özet Bildiri)
Investigation of Firearm Injury Cases Among Individuals Over 65 Years of Age in Malatya Between 2015-2020 Mucahit Oruc1, Ismail Altin2, Abdulkerim Yayla1 2 1Inonu University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Malatya, Turkiye Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkiye Abstract Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines the onset of old age as 65 years and classifies it into young-old (65-74), old (75-84), and oldest-old (85+). The primary mechanism of tissue injury caused by high-kinetic energy projectiles is the temporary cavitation and subsequent collapse of tissues, which occurs for a few milliseconds as the projectile passes through. Aim: Our study aimed to compare fatal firearm injury cases that underwent autopsy and non fatal cases that were hospitalized among individuals over 65 in Malatya. Materıal and Method: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed cases that were referred to the İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center following an injury and those that were sent to the Malatya Group Presidency of the Council of Forensic Medicine for autopsy after death occurred. Findings: Of the autopsy cases, 100% were male, while 92% of the cases who received initial treatment at the hospital were male. Suicide accounted for 30% of the autopsy cases, whereas it accounted for 12% of the injured cases. Eight percent of the cases who received initial treatment at the hospital resulted in death. In 50% of the autopsy cases, shotgun pellets were detected, while firearm bullet projectiles were detected in 40%. The head and neck region was the most frequently injured area in both groups. Conclusion: The data obtained is expected to contribute to the evaluation of firearm injuries in elderly individuals in forensic medicine practices and to the development of preventive strategies. Keywords: Firearm, autopsy, homicide, suicide, old age.