Civilian gunshot wounds to the fingers treated with primary bone grafting

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009 Dec;62(12):e551-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2008.11.116. Epub 2009 Feb 5.

Abstract

Civilian gunshot injuries often consist of relative soft-tissue sparing and minimal contamination. Primary bone grafting with allograft for wounds limited to the digits was used in a one-stage reconstruction enabling bony union with minimal complications in this specific population. All patients suffering from small-calibre gunshot wounds to the hand treated between 2004 and 2006 with a single-stage surgery were reviewed. Surgery consisted of limited debridement and bone grafting of the fracture. Allomatrix was used in all of the patients. There were 12 patients; seven with isolated wounds to a finger. All of the patients had devastating bony injuries. The average follow-up period was 14 weeks. All patients progressed to bony healing. One patient had a second surgery for additional bone grafting. There were no complications. Relatively low contamination allows for primary bone grafting without increasing the risk of infection. This one-step approach to civilian gunshot wounds to the hand has minimal complications and allows for healing, while addressing the problem of non-compliance in this specific population.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Transplantation / methods*
  • Female
  • Finger Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Finger Injuries / surgery*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / methods
  • Fracture Healing
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Radiography
  • Wounds, Gunshot / diagnostic imaging
  • Wounds, Gunshot / surgery*
  • Young Adult