Penetrating Trauma

Abstract

Treating penetrating trauma (Fig. 4.1) patients often presents a treatment challenge. The majority of penetrating trauma is caused by bullet and stab wounds. Typically, in the community setting, if a fracture’s characteristics would allow it to be treated nonoperatively and it is caused by a gunshot wound, it can be treated as a closed fracture. If a fracture’s characteristics require operative intervention, then the fracture should be treated as an open fracture. These principles hold true for “low-velocity” gunshot injuries, however, “high-velocity” injuries such as rifle, assault weapon, or low-distance shotgun injuries should be treated differently due to increased energy transferred to the surrounding tissues.