Pediatric Gunshot Wounds: A Decade-Long Emergency Department Experience in a High-Risk Region

Background: Pediatric gunshot wounds (GSWs) remain a significant cause of preventable mortality worldwide, particularly in regions with high violence and low socioeconomic conditions. The Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) is widely used for trauma severity assessment, yet its prognostic value in firearm-related pediatric injuries remains underexplored. Methods: This retrospective study included patients under 18 years who presented with GSWs to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in southeastern Türkiye between 2015 and 2025. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were collected. The predictive value of PTS for in-hospital mortality was analyzed using ROC curve analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify independent mortality predictors. Results: A total of 200 pediatric GSW cases were evaluated; the median age was 11 years, and 73% were male. The overall mortality rate was 6.5%. All deaths occurred in patients triaged as red zone and requiring emergency interventions. Mortality was significantly associated with low PTS (median: 1 vs. 9, p