Retrieval of an intact, intraarticular bullet by hip arthroscopy using the lateral approach.
A twenty-seven-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the left gluteal region. Both plain films and a computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed that the bullet was in the hip joint. Using the lateral approach, the patient underwent hip arthroscopy, and the bullet was removed without difficulty. After surgery, the patient went on to an uneventful recovery. The use of arthroscopy for bullet removal minimized the surgical dissection, avoided an extensive capsulotomy, and reduced the associated risk of injury to the blood supply of the femoral head and osteonecrosis. This report illustrates the application of hip arthroscopy in the removal of retained bullets with minimal associated morbidity and further expands the indications for this procedure.
Meyer
Nicholas J
NJ
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA.
Thiel
Brent
B
Ninomiya
James T
JT
D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D025981:Hip Injuries; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*