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Abstract
With increasing violence in our society, the number of gunshot fractures is likely
to increase. Fourteen femoral fractures caused by gunshot injuries were treated with
statically locked intramedullary nailing within 8 h of injury. Three patients had
concomitant femoral arterial injuries. At follow-up (average 22 months) the results
were assessed using a standardized grading system. Thirteen fractures had progressed
to stable bony union and there were no deep infections. Nine fractures had an excellent
outcome and four a good outcome. One fracture was graded as a poor outcome because
of a non-union which was treated with an exchange nailing procedure and progressed
to bony union. Our experience of immediate intramedullary nailing of gunshot femoral
fractures has yielded results which approximate to those observed in treating closed
femoral fractures. We would therefore recommend this as the treatment of choice in
fractures of the femoral shaft caused by gunshots.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 12,
1995
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.
