Nerve Injury in Gunshot Wounds

Mechanism of Injury

Gunshot wounds are high-energy injuries that cause both direct tissue damage along the missile tract and radial injury from kinetic energy transfer, placing nearby neurovascular structures at significant risk, according to the American College of Radiology 1, 2

Plain radiographs should be obtained immediately to identify retained foreign bodies and assess for associated fractures, as recommended by the American College of Radiology 1, 3
Lateral and anteroposterior X-rays of the foot are essential to determine bullet fragment location, size, and proximity to neurovascular structures, as suggested by the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 4, 5
CT imaging may be warranted in hemodynamically stable patients to better characterize the extent of bony and soft tissue injury, according to the American College of Radiology 1, 2