Summary:
Background: Military orthopedic surgeons frequently treat
combat gunshot wounds. Civilian Gun Shot Wound (GSW)
of the limb is not uncommon in wartime but it differs from
peace time casualty in terms of contamination and wounding
potential of firearms. There is always a decision making
dilemma to divide wounds for conservative irrigation and
aggressive debridement.
Objective: To set criteria to divide wound for conservative
irrigation and aggressive debridement and to review our
experience with this treatment regime.
Method: This was a prospective observational study from
February to July 2011 in a United Nations Level-II hospital.
All civilian GSW were classified into two groups according
to laid down criteria. All low velocity minor GSW were
grouped as minor wound and was treated conservatively
with wound irrigation and marginal excision whereas all
high velocity severe wounds were treated with aggressive