• Anna Antoni and Sithombo Maqungo.
• University of Cape Town, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa; Medical University of Vienna, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma-Surgery, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
• Injury. 2023 Dec 1; 54 (12): 111086111086.

IntroductionCivilian gunshot fractures of the pelvic ring represent a unique challenge for orthopaedic surgeons due to a high incidence of complicating associated injuries. Internationally accepted guidelines for these injuries are not available. The aim of this review is to summarize the available literature and to provide concise management recommendations.MethodsLiterature search was performed using PubMed. The review focuses on civilian gunshot fractures of the pelvic ring and includes the acetabulum and hip joint only where it was deemed necessary for the understanding of the management of these patients.ResultsThe management of civilian transpelvic gunshot fractures is complicated by potentially life-threatening associated injuries, the risk of contamination with bowel content and retained bullets in joints. The infection risk is higher compared to extremity gunshot fractures. There is no clear evidence for the use of antibiotics available. The studies focusing on civilian pelvic ring gunshot fractures reported no case of orthopaedic fracture fixation in their series. Routine wash-out and debridement of fractures is not warranted based on the literature but conflicting recommendations for surgical interventions exist.ConclusionThere is limited evidence available for civilian transpelvic gunshot fractures. The high frequency of associated injuries requires a thorough clinical examination and multidisciplinary management. We recommend routine antibiotic prophylaxis for all transpelvic gunshots. For fractures with a high risk of infection, a minimum of 24 h broad-spectrum antibiotics is recommended. The indication for orthopaedic fixation of civilian transpelvic gunshot fractures is based on the assessment of the stability of the fracture and is rarely necessary. Although conflicting recommendations exist, routine wash-out and debridement is not recommended based on the literature. Bullets buried in bone without contact to synovial fluid do not warrant removal, unless they have traversed large bowel and are accessible without undue morbidity. Furthermore, bullets should be routinely removed if they are retained in the hip joint, if mechanical irritation of soft tissues by projectiles is expected or if the bullet traversed large bowel before entering the hip joint.Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

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