Work

Limb salvage and functional recovery following accidental shotgun injury in a young child: A case report

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Paediatric firearm injuries are rare in civilian settings but pose significant challenges due to high-energy trauma, small anatomical compartments, and limited physiological reserve. Shotgun wounds, in particular, produce complex skeletal and soft tissue destruction requiring staged multidisciplinary care. Case presentation: We report a 3-year-old girl with an accidental close range shotgun injury to the right forearm, presenting with grossly contaminated wounds, soft tissue loss, and comminuted fractures of the shaft of radius and ulna. Emergent debridement and elbow-spanning external fixation were performed, followed by a re-debridement at 48 h and a split-thickness skin grafting on day 10. Conclusion: This case highlights key principles in the management of severe paediatric ballistic trauma, including timely debridement and external fixation followed by relook debridement, antibiotics, and early soft tissue reconstruction. With structured rehabilitation, the child achieved fracture union and near-complete functional recovery. Early multidisciplinary intervention remains essential to optimize outcomes.

Source: Trauma Case Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.tcr.2026.101307

Authors: Arjit Bansal, Karthick Rangasamy, Vishnu Kumar, Utkarsh Reddy, Durgesh Kumar, Sai Surya Dinesh Pydi

Institution: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

Language: English

Topic: Bone fractures and treatments

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,190