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Nonpowder guns pose significant risk of eye injury among children

WASHINGTON — The growing popularity of nonpowder firearms, including paintball guns, airsoft guns, BB guns and pellet guns, represent a significant risk of ocular injury among children with the potential for permanent disability, according to data presented at the 2015 AAP National Conference and Exhibition.

“It is extremely important for PCPs to be aware that nonpowder gun injuries can appear deceivingly benign by external exam,” Nina Mizuki Fitzgerald, MD, a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, told Infectious Diseases in Children. “In contrast to traditional firearms, nonpowder guns do not leave powder burns on the skin; a small puncture wound may be the only visible sign of an injury, but there may be severe internal injuries.”

Nina Mizuki Fitzgerald

While national estimates indicate that the overall incidence of nonpowder gun injuries in children has decreased in the last decade, it is believed that the injury severity posed by nonpowder gun has increased since the introduction of higher velocity nonpowder guns.

To determine whether there was an increase in these injuries among pediatric patients, Fitzgerald and colleagues performed a retrospective study of all children (n=176) aged 0-18 years treated at a children’s hospital following injury with nonpowder guns between 2010 and 2013.

The researchers collected information on the type of weapon involved, injury presentation, location, interventions as well as morbidity and mortality.

According to study results, BB guns were identified in 76% of injury cases, with airsoft weapons reported in 22.5% of cases. The researchers noted that only 6% of children with a life-threatening injury were injured in a location other than the eye. Among the 76 (43%) children who presented with an eye injury, 8% later underwent enucleation.

Additionally, 10% of children suffered a lasting functional deficit due to their injuries, of which 83% were eye-related.

“PCPs can play a large role in educating parents about the danger of nonpowder guns, as they are quite powerful – some even with the same muzzle velocity as traditional handguns,” Fitzgerald said. “Parents should be instructed to always supervise children when using nonpowder guns, and that BB guns, pellet guns, airsofts, paintball guns are not toys: they are powerful weapons that can cause severe injuries and long-term deficits.”– by Bob Stott

Reference:
Fitzgerald NM. Abstract 31728. Presented at: AAP National Conference and Exhibition; Oct. 24-27, 2015; Washington, D.C.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.