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Gunshot and blast injuries of the extremities: a review of 45 cases

  • Original Article • TRAUMA - MICROSURGERY
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European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Gunshot wounds and blast injuries constitute a major public health problem, as the increasing availability of firearms and explosives in conjunction with increasing violence in the city setting have brought this reality into civilian life. Extremities are most commonly involved; therefore, orthopedic surgeons should be trained to manage these types of injuries. Complete and accurate assessment of the injury itself is of great importance, as it will determine the severity and the risk of patients. High-risk injuries from missiles and injuries from explosions are associated with moderate or poor outcomes, major complications, and increased need for multiple surgical procedures. On the other hand, low-risk injuries frequently present optimal results and rather low morbidity. The role of microsurgery is essential, especially in the high- and very high-risk injuries, since complex and multiple reconstructions have to be performed, which include the utilization of free flaps, nerve grafts, and tendon transfers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Upper Limb and Hand Surgery and Microsurgery, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Ioannis A. Ignatiadis, Vasiliki A. Tsiampa, Dimitrios K. Arapoglou & Sarantis Spyridonos

  2. First Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 41 Ventouri Street, Holargos, 15562, Athens, Greece

    Andreas F. Mavrogenis & Vasilios G. Igoumenou

  3. Third Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Vasilios D. Polyzois

Authors
  1. Ioannis A. Ignatiadis
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  2. Andreas F. Mavrogenis
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  3. Vasilios G. Igoumenou
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  4. Vasilios D. Polyzois
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  5. Vasiliki A. Tsiampa
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  6. Dimitrios K. Arapoglou
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  7. Sarantis Spyridonos
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Correspondence to Ioannis A. Ignatiadis.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

This article presents an overview of the treatment of gunshot and blast injuries of the extremities. Injury patterns, methods of treatment, and patient outcomes are discussed, along with a systematic review of the current literature on the subject.

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Ignatiadis, I.A., Mavrogenis, A.F., Igoumenou, V.G. et al. Gunshot and blast injuries of the extremities: a review of 45 cases. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 29, 295–305 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-018-2350-4

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