Gunshot Injury to the Groin: Management of Patients with Life-Threatening Condition Gunshot Injury to the Groin

Gunshot injuries have become increasingly common in Turkey. Patients with gunshot arterial injuries to the groin admitted to the emergency department present with rapidly expanding hematoma, absent distal pulse, bruit over the artery, ischemic limb, unrecordable blood pressure, confused status, tachycardia, tachypnea, and pulsatile external bleeding (1). Prompt restoration of the circulation is mandatory to avoid death and ischemia. Although vascular injuries are not uncommon, femoral vascular injuries are the most common, accounting for approximately 70% of all peripheral vascular injuries. Vascular injuries were common during war, constituting 2%–5% of all injuries (2). Amputation rate was 50% in the World War II and reduced to less than 10% during the Vietnam War (3).