Random Unsettling Facts About Surviving A Shot To The Head (11 items)

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  (#1) The Type Of Gunshot Wound Can Impact Survival

  The type of gunshot wound a person receives plays a key role in their chance of survival. Research suggests that in some circumstances, people can survive a penetrating wound, one in which the bullet goes straight through the head and creates both entrance and exit wounds. If the bullet doesn't make an escape, then it's called a perforating wound.

  In these cases, a bullet lodged in the brain can migrate and cause even more damage.
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  (#2) Blood Loss Is The Number-One Killer

  Blood loss is often the main factor in deaths resulting from shots to the head since the brain's midline is home to many important blood vessels.

  There's also the risk that growing pressure from a blood clot can cause death since the brain's tissue becomes increasingly compressed.
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  (#3) A Close-Range Shot Isn't A Guaranteed Death Sentence

  According to a 2012 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 56% of male suicides involved a gun.

  While some might consider a close-range shot to be fatal in all instances, it is not a guaranteed death sentence, since aim can be an issue even when self-inflicted.
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  (#4) The Bullet Track Has To Bypass Vital Areas Of The Brain

  Each hemisphere of the brain is made up of four lobes. Fatalities are less likely when the bullet track is limited to one hemisphere and one lobe. For instance, if the bullet path goes through the right frontal lobe while staying clear of the brain stem, the most vital areas of the brain (the parts that control breathing and thinking) could be spared.

  This is essentially an upward trajectory through the forehead and out the back of the head.
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  (#5) Brain Tissue Stretches And Overshoots Its Original Position

  A bullet travels faster than the rate at which brain tissue rips. This means when a bullet moves through the brain, it is actually pushing tissues out of the way, stretching them wildly. The speed at which a bullet tears through the brain means the bullet will exit the skull before tissues even have a chance to rip.

  However, brain tissue over-stretches when it snaps back. This results in a long cavity created by the bullet, so while the brain tissue snaps back to its original position, it overshoots its normal location due to said cavity.
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  (#6) For Bullets, Shape And Size Does Matter

  Some reports indicate that bullets that are narrow maintain their shape and move at a high velocity are considered just as dangerous as large, exploding shells, but they may not cause as much damage.

  While speed can definitely kill, a high-velocity bullet (faster than 2,000 feet per second) is less likely to wobble around and cause secondary damage. It can be likened to throwing a football with a tight spiral. That said, all bullets should be considered dangerous.
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  (#7) Victims Must Pass A Test Before Surgery

  Before doctors can dive into surgery, they have to test the brain stem's functionality and measure the patient's level of consciousness. The Glasgow Coma Scale spans from 1-15; anyone who scores below a seven or an eight is thought to be in a coma.

  As for brain stem activity, it's a bad sign if a person's eyes can't stay fixed on a central point as the head turns. Failing both tests may make a person a poor candidate for surgery.
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  (#8) A Person's SPIN Score Can Determine Whether Or Not They'll Survive A Shot To The Head

  A 2016 study on surviving brain injuries developed a state-of-the-art tool that helps predict whether or not a person will survive after any penetrative brain injury, including shots to the head. This tool is called the SPIN score, which stands for Surviving Penetrating Injury to the Brain. It can predict if people can survive such a wound with 96% accuracy. 

  The SPIN score was developed by looking at 10 years of data from two level-one trauma centers of patients who suffered from penetrating brain injuries, most of which were caused by gunshots. The score ranges from four to 52; a higher score indicates a higher chance of survival.

  No patients with a SPIN score of 16 or less survived. While the SPIN score requires further research, it's seemingly a promising way to determine survival rates for those who suffer gunshot wounds to the head.
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  (#9) Surviving A Shot To The Head Comes With Other Medical Issues

  Brain swelling may not hit its peak until three days after a person has been shot. Depending on how badly the brain swells, doctors might have to perform a craniectomy, which means a large part of the skull is temporarily removed to ease some pressure.

  Even if all goes well, recovery from such a wound is still a lengthy, uphill battle. Regaining some functions or adjusting to new disabilities could take years.
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  (#10) Not All Hospitals Are Equipped To Treat Gunshot Wounds To The Head

  Because headshots are relatively uncommon, some hospitals aren't fully equipped to handle them. If that's the case, a time-consuming transfer to a new hospital must occur, potentially resulting in death.

  The best-case scenario is for the injured party to be taken to a level-one trauma center. This was the case in 2011 when Arizona Representative Gabby Giffords went into surgery within 38 minutes of being shot in the head and survived.
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  (#11) Psychological Wounds Are Often Just As Lasting As The Physical

  Depending on what part of the victim's brain was damaged, they could have vivid memories of the entire ordeal. As a result, they might suffer from flashbacks, a common symptom of PTSD. This is especially true among veterans of the Vietnam War.

  In addition to PTSD, survivors must also cope with impairments such as slowed speech, diminished social skills, and impaired memory. Reportedly, millions of Americans live with the long-term effects of brain trauma, leading many experts to refer to it as the “silent epidemic."

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