Treatment strategies for gunshot wounds of the extremities

The incidence of gunshot wounds is increasing also in Europe and surgeons in urban trauma centers are more frequently confronted with this type of injury. Since there is no established treatment algorithm for gunshot injuries to the extremities, the surgeon should rely on established soft tissue injury and fracture protocols. Gunshot fractures with minor soft tissue destruction should be treated as closed fractures. The treatment of choice for unstable fractures is early internal stabilization, whereas stable fractures may be treated by functional bracing. The administration of an antibiotic prophylaxis for fractures with minor soft tissue injury is controversial. Gunshot fractures with major soft tissue injury should be treated as open fractures. Debridement of nonviable tissue and external fixation are recommended. Prophylactic intravenous antibiotics are mandatory and prophylactic fasciotomy is often required. Upon definitive internal stabilization, bone grafting should be considered since gunshot fractures are usually associated with a high degree of comminution. Articular gunshot injuries are treated as open joint injuries and require irrigation, debridement, foreign body removal and antibiotic prophylaxis.