TITLE:
Ballistic Injuries among Civilians during the June 2023 Protests in Senegal: Epidemiological, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects
AUTHORS:
Souleymane Diao, Papa Makhtar Fall, Joseph Davy Diouf, Mamadou Lamine Gueye, Ndiaga Dièye, Amadou Ndiasse Kasse, Jean Claude Sane
KEYWORDS:
Ballistic Trauma, Political Protests, Senegal, External Fixation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Orthopedics,
Vol.16 No.5,
May
21,
2026
ABSTRACT: Title: Gunshot injuries during the June 2023 protests in Senegal: Epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects at Idrissa Pouye General Hospital (HOGIP). Background: Political protests in June 2023 in Senegal led to an unprecedented influx of ballistic trauma in civilian settings. The aim of this study was to describe the management of these injuries at the Orthopedics-Traumatology department of the HOGIP in Dakar. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted over 5 days (June 1-5, 2023). All civilians admitted for ballistic trauma were included, excluding isolated cranial or abdomino-pelvic injuries. Results: Sixty (60) patients were included, all male, with a mean age of 26.9 years. Injuries were predominantly located in the limbs (95.59%), particularly the lower limbs (61.76%). Open fractures occurred in 23.53% of cases, mainly affecting long bones (humerus, femur, and tibia). Imaging confirmed the presence of live ammunition or metallic fragments in 20.59% of cases. Surgical treatment was performed for 84.84% of lesions, primarily involving debridement (39.39%) and external fixation (15.15%). Conclusion: The June 2023 protests resulted in complex ballistic injuries among young men. HOGIP played a vital role in emergency response. The “damage control” strategy, based on surgical debridement and external fixation, was essential to stabilize severe injuries. This study highlights the need for urban hospitals to maintain constant preparedness (e.g., “Plan Blanc”) for mass casualty events. Prohibiting the use of lethal ammunition for crowd control is a public health necessity to prevent life-altering disabilities.