Experience in low velocity gunshot injuries: a more conservative approach in selected cases

Sixty-eight patients with gunshot and blast injuries who had sustained 200 wounds were treated in a single surgical unit over an 18-month period. Many of these were low velocity injuries to the soft tissues of the lower limbs. A change of policy was adopted for this selected group which involved minimum wound debridement under local anaesthesia in association with antibiotics. This policy enables early discharge from hospital and has resulted in a low infection rate with no significant morbidity.