Retained Shotgun Pellets
Enat Arega1, Tyler Larsen1,2
1Department of Medicine University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Journal of Brown Hospital Medicine
|March 3, 2025
Summary
Retained bullet fragments are common after gunshot wounds. This case highlights incidental shotgun pellets found in an elderly patient with multiple comorbidities.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Toxicology
- Radiology
Background:
- Retained bullet fragments are a frequent complication of nonfatal gunshot injuries.
- Surgical removal of retained fragments is infrequent, leading to potential long-term complications.
- The presence of heavy metals from projectiles can pose toxicological risks.
