Shotgun injury: don't forget the wad

While close-range shotgun injuries may clinically appear similar to gunshot wounds from rifles or handguns, they are important to differentiate as they require special consideration. We present a case of a male in his 20s who sustained a close-range shotgun wound to the right lower extremity and was subsequently found to have a retained, radiolucent shotgun wad deep within the wound bed. Identification and removal of shotgun wads are of paramount importance, as failure to do so may lead to downstream secondary infectious complications.