Gunshot wounds
In this article, I will give you general characteristics of gunshot wounds, features of the diagnosis of bullet wounds, and we will separately touch upon the topic of possible complications in the treatment of wounds received from firearms.
According to statistics, the “lion’s share” of wounds (about 40%) occurs on the joints, therefore, the recognition of bone injuries and the determination of their characteristics are of decisive importance are radiation research methods, such as radiography (it is best to use high-quality digital radiography) and the most accurate method for diagnosing gunshot wounds – spiral computed tomography (SCT)
Features of a gunshot fracture
- direct nature of the damage;
- extensive affected area;
- lack of “typical” localization;
- significant bone damage (innumerable multiple fragments with significant displacement);
- the open nature of the damage (the wound is a gateway to infection);
- extensive bleeding;
- foreign bodies in the wound;
- The extent of soft tissue damage and actual bone damage most often do not coincide.
About 80% of wounds occur in the upper and lower extremities, about 20% in the skull and torso (most wounds in this area are incompatible with life).
