GSW is an acronym used in trauma notes. What does it stand for?

• A. General surgical wound
• B. Gunshot wound
• C. Gastrointestinal system wound
• D. Gross wound

Answer: (B)

In trauma notes, abbreviations are used to convey the type and mechanism of injury quickly. GSW stands for gunshot wound, indicating a penetrating injury caused by a firearm projectile. This shorthand is standard because it flags a specific injury pattern and guides urgent assessment and management, such as imaging to assess trajectory, potential vascular or organ injury, and the need for wound care and tetanus/prophylaxis. The other terms aren’t standard trauma shorthand: “general surgical wound” isn’t a recognized label, “gastrointestinal system wound” awkwardly describes the injury, and “gross wound” isn’t a conventional term. So, GSW most accurately denotes a gunshot wound.