title: Gunshot wounds to the extremities. Experience of a level I trauma center.
abstract: Gunshot wounds to the extremities are more common today, largely because civilian handgun injuries have increased. Such injuries, which are usually caused by low-velocity missiles, should be treated differently from those caused by high-velocity (military) missiles. Bone involvement, including fractures and joint injuries, necessitates orthopaedic management. At the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School's (UMDNJ-NJMS) University Hospital, a level I trauma center, 44 gunshot wounds (32 lower-extremity and 12 upper-extremity) with orthopaedic complications were treated between January 1986 and December 1988. The protocol/questionnaire used by the UMDNJ-NJMS is presented here to assist the orthopaedic surgeon in the evaluation and treatment of these problematic injuries.
authors.affiliation: Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Billings
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aurori
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Swan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology