Low-Flow Ankle Arthroscopy for Gunshot Wounds With Retained Intra-Articular Ballistic

ABSTRACT: Gunshot injuries to the foot and ankle can cause unique and challenging situations for orthopaedic surgeons. The foot and ankle have limited soft-tissue coverage and highly congruent joint spaces, leading to injuries that are often intra-articular with substantial tissue loss. These injuries are often confounded by feet shod in footwear that is pulled into the path of the missile and corresponding tissue. Thus, we report our experience of using low-flow arthroscopy for extraction of retained ballistics, while irrigating and debriding the path of the missile. Technique Video Video 1 Shown is the evaluation of the ankle joint using our low-flow arthroscopic technique with the NanoScope (Arthrex, Naples FL) within the posterolateral portal. The foreign body is visualized from the posterolateral portal and can be seen being removed from the surrounding soft-tissue envelope using retrieving forceps with the projectile pointing toward the entry portal. The residual path of the intra-articular missile is then evaluated for any residual hemorrhagic tissue that requires debridement. The water pressure from the arthroscope is used to irrigate the path of the missile which could be directly visualized during the procedure.

SUBMITTER: Alvarez P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9705770 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature