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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)
Reported as a rare medical case, a 29-year-old man in Crete reportedly survived a gunshot to the head. Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician, explains to us how this is possible.
Is it possible to escape death if someone shoots you in the head point-blank? Yes, according to this extraordinary case reported in theAmerican Journal of Case Reports a few days ago. Discover the extraordinary story of this 29-year-old Cretan.
Bullet fragments still in his skull
Without knowing the reason, the man was shot with a handgun from a distance of approximately 10 meters more than two years ago. According to the report, the bullet shattered, tearing the left hemisphere of his brain, located near the back of his skull.
In a coma (but still alive), the man is rushed to the hospital where doctors carry out surgery during which they remove part of his skull to recover the bullet fragments. “Some could not be extracted” the report says.
Once the wound is sutured, the victim is hospitalized for two and a half months, during which time he undergoes cranioplasty – or partial skull reconstruction – before being transferred to an outpatient rehabilitation center for 18 months.
He loses the use of speech but not his life!
Surprisingly, two and a half years after being shot in the head, the man is still alive! He is no longer able to speak, only utters monosyllabic utterances and has difficulty understanding complex language. He also suffers from involuntary spasms on the right side of his body and difficulty moving muscles on the left side.
Nonetheless, researchers said he still had emotions and was able to signal his desires with sounds and expressions.
The report explains that the bullet pierced the left side of his brain – which is involved in speech, language processing and directing movements on the right side of the body. The right side, involved in emotions, problem solving and movements on the left side, is unharmed.
Death in more than 97% of gunshot wounds to the head
It is estimated that less than 3% of people survive a gunshot wound to the head. Most people hit in the head die almost instantly, either from shock or because essential functions are disrupted. Among them, even fewer fully recover from their injuries and continue to live “as before”
But sometimes, death is not expected, as Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor, explains to us.
“Of course, you can survive a bullet, but everything will depend on the trajectory, whether the bullet hits vital structures or not. A blow to the temple can, for example, sever the optic nerves, without killing the person. If the bullet passes over unimportant areas, you don’t necessarily die. On the other hand, the problem is that even when it affects less important (non-vital) functions, the passage can create edema, infection… in short, complications. You don’t necessarily die instantly from a shot, but you can die later as a result.”
Slide: Diseases fatal in less than 24 hours