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Bullet to the femoral head

Authors Akella K, Murthy N, Bell P, Chendrasekhar A

Received 10 September 2015

Accepted for publication 13 November 2015

Published 18 January 2016 Volume 2016:9 Pages 1—4

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OAS.S96097

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2

Editor who approved publication: Professor Cataldo Doria



Krishna Akella, Nupur Murthy, Phoenix Bell, Akella Chendrasekhar

Department of Surgery, Trauma Section, Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, USA


Abstract: A bullet being lodged in the femoral head is a unique trauma situation, which can be managed either operatively or non-operatively. We present two different scenarios of a bullet being lodged in the femoral head with a discussion of both operative and non-operative management as well as diagnostic considerations.

Keywords: penetrating , trauma, extremity

Introduction

A gunshot injury to an extremity is a common occurrence, with management being either operative or nonoperative, depending on the bullets’ location and patient presentation.1 Possible complications include avascular necrosis, posttraumatic arthritis, infection, compartment syndrome, lead poisoning, fracture, and shock. We report on two unusual cases of gunshot wounds presenting with a bullet lodged in the femoral head. As this was a retrospective study looking at two patients where no patient identifiers were used, our institutional review board and our risk manager felt no consent was required from the patients nor was ethical approval required.

Case 1

Our first patient was a 26-year-old male, with no significant past medical history, who was brought to the emergency room with multiple gunshot wounds to the elbow and hip. Plain radiographs and a computed tomography (CT) scan found a bullet lodged in the right femoral head (Figure 1) as well as a through-and-through injury to the upper extremity without any bone injury or residual deficit. He was then given Cefazolin and transferred to the intensive care unit. Orthopedic assessment was obtained. The patient appeared stable and no subsequent orthopedic operative management was deemed to be necessary. Physical therapy was initiated with full weight bearing on the injured extremity. The patient was able to tolerate this management and was discharged home after several days in the hospital.

Figure 1 Computed tomography scan of patient (case 1) with femoral head gunshot wound.
Note: Arrows point to the bullet lodged in the femoral head.

Case 2

Our second patient was a 26-year-old male, with no past medical history, who was hospitalized due to a gunshot wound to the right buttock and abdomen. Subsequent imaging with CT found a bullet located in the right femoral head in addition to a fracture of the acetabulum (Figure 2). The patient was also noted to have a colonic perforation, secondary to a second gunshot wound to the abdomen, requiring a resection and end colostomy. To decrease the patients’ pain and regain functional movement of the hip, surgical removal of the bullet fragment was deemed necessary. This procedure is technically challenging, as gaining access to the bullet requires joint dislocation and relocation following removal of the bullet. A standard posterolateral approach was used in order to access the hip joint and the femoral head. A trochanteric fragment osteotomy was also performed followed by a z-capsulotomy. The hip was dislocated anteriorly and the bullet fragment was removed. After the completion of the procedure, the patient was started on physical therapy with weight bearing as tolerated and was subsequently discharged home.

Figure 2 Computed tomography scan of patient (case 2) with femoral head gunshot wound.
Note: Arrows point to the bullet lodged in the femoral head.

Discussion

Gunshot wounds to the extremity are a common occurrence.1 The most common firearm injury occurring in the civilian population is low-velocity, due to handguns. Greater kinetic energy transference, increased risk of compartment syndrome as well as greater extent of wound contamination are contributing factors as to why shotgun and high velocity wounds are more likely to cause devastating injury.2,3

Clinical presentation of extremity gunshot wounds is highly variable depending on the site of involvement and the extent of the damage. Critical factors of such an injury to consider include nerve and vascular damage, compartment syndrome, fractures, and weapon type. Soft tissue is the predominant type of tissue injury in gunshot wounds. Neural and vascular injuries are primary determinants of both mortality and long-term outcomes in these patients.46

Extremity vascular injury and subsequent hemorrhage can induce hemodynamic instability and impact extremity viability. Fascial layer separation plays a central role in the pattern of injury due to the kinetic energy transfer involved in the immediate occurrence of the distal injury and late development of compartment syndrome.7 Penetrating lower extremity traumas most often damage the superficial femoral artery, followed by the popliteal artery, and the common femoral artery. Penetrating trauma resulting in amputation is most frequently associated with popliteal artery injury.8 Peripheral nerve injury due to trauma accounts for 2%–3% of traumatic injury. More commonly, these are associated with concomitant vascular injury.810

Lower extremity gunshots have the greatest fracture rate – primarily occurring in the femur (22%–49%) and tibia (11%–14%).11 Injury in these fractures can be due to the bullet itself or secondary to bone fragments damaging tissue and neurovascular supply.12,13 Severe femoral fractures and medial thigh wounds carry a significantly increased risk for vascular injury and massive hemorrhage. Tibial trauma is most commonly associated with the development of lower extremity compartment syndrome. Over 60% of penetrating lower extremity trauma patients who develop compartment syndrome have associated tibial fractures.14

The gold standard diagnostic modality to assess the degree of vascular injury is angiography. With a sensitivity of 99%–100% and specificity of 87%–100%, CT angiography (CTA) has replaced conventional angiography in most cases.1517 While duplex ultrasound is a diagnostic alternative with similar sensitivity and specificity, studies have often found diagnostic accuracy to be user dependent.14,18

Timing of presentation after injury plays a critical role in a patients’ outcome. A delay >6–8 hours has been found to be associated with significantly higher complication rates.7 If there is concern for vascular injury, admission with serial examinations in addition to CTA is a commonly accepted management strategy. Post-gunshot nerve injury is very difficult to assess within the acute period. Seventy percent of patients with documented peripheral nerve injury make a complete recovery.10 Frequent neurologic status assessments are important in the management of gunshot wound patients as an indicator of the development of compartment syndrome.

Management of post-gunshot fractures generally requires reduction with anatomic realignment, followed by soft tissue care, and splinting. Obvious contamination, large size, and joint involvement are indicatiors for the use of intravenous antibiotics. Definitive management of joint and bone injury is often surgical. Indication for operative management of bullets in joints is dependent on the degree of joint involvement and the ability to bear weight and perform normal function. As was the case in one of our patients, one was managed nonoperatively. Both had successful outcomes. Soft tissue injury management is dependent on wound size. Small wounds are isolated to the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle and are managed with a combination of irrigation, debridement, and antibiotics in the outpatient setting. Outpatient management of these cases has been found to reduce overall complication rate.2,19 Wounds that are large, deep, have cosmetic implication, or older than 8 hours require operative management and hospital admission.20

One other issue is the lodging of bullets or pellets in relatively inaccessible parts of the body. The management of the bullet can be either operative or nonoperative. In general, if the bullet is lodged in soft tissue away from vital structures, the nonoperative approach is preferred. However if the bullet is in a joint space, the bullet is not physiologically inert and should be removed.21

Conclusion

Extremity gunshot wounds are complex with a wide variety of clinical presentations. Joint involvement in the context of extremity gunshot wounds is a particularly rare phenomenon. Both of our cases were unusual in this respect; both had different management strategies and equivalent outcomes. Injury in gunshot wounds can occur at different levels, including soft tissue, neurovascular supply, and bone. Diagnosis of vascular injury involves the use of CTA or duplex ultrasonography. Management depends on the type of injury. Fracture management involves reduction, soft tissue care, and splinting. Soft tissue care involves the use of irrigation, debridement, and antibiotics. We have shown two different and equally acceptable approaches to the management of a bullet lodged in the femoral head.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.


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