Intra-articular Ballistic Injury

Description

The presentation led by Sarah Phillips emphasizes the complexities surrounding the management of ballistic injuries, particularly the personality of fractures and the importance of a comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and the surgical team's capacity. The discussion begins with a historical context from the British Military Surgery Pocket Book, focusing on immediate management strategies such as resuscitation, assessment, and wound debridement, highlighting the necessity to be conservative during debridement to preserve synovial structures. The talk advances into the usage of antibiotics, stressing the prompt administration of antibiotics post-injury to mitigate infection risks, and introducing literature that presents differing protocols across military surgical manuals and studies, including evidence on infection rates from gunshot wounds. Specific illustrative cases, such as managing knee injuries from gunfire, are introduced, detailing surgical techniques that involve cleaning and stabilizing the wounds while considering the broader implications of potential complications, difficulty in restoration, and rehabilitation. The presentation concludes with recommendations for further research and individualized care pathways, pertaining to not just the injuries but also the psychosocial impacts on the patients, ultimately advocating for practical applications of learned principles in high-energy trauma settings.

Specialties