Shotgun Bean Bag Projectiles Causing Open Fractures and Retained Radiolucent Foreign Bodies: A Report of 2 Cases

Jordan A Miller; Jalen Paulos; Charlton H Bassett; Sophie Silverstein; Brock Wentz; Karen E Nelson

doi:10.2106/JBJS.CC.24.00132

Shotgun Bean Bag Projectiles Causing Open Fractures and Retained Radiolucent Foreign Bodies: A Report of 2 Cases

JBJS Case Connect. 2024 Sep 6;14(3). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.24.00132. eCollection 2024 Jul 1.

Authors

Jordan A Miller¹, Jalen Paulos², Charlton H Bassett², Sophie Silverstein³, Brock Wentz^{1

4}, Karen E Nelson^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada.
² Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada.
³ Albany Medical College, Albany, New York.
⁴ University Medical Center Orthopaedic and Spine Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada.

PMID: 39241100
DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.24.00132

Abstract

Case: Bean bag projectiles (BBPs) are less lethal munition composed of a cloth bag filled with lead pellets and marking powder housed in a plastic casing fired from a 12-gauge shot gun. Two patients sustained penetrating BBP injuries that resulted in open fractures and retained BBP. Patient clothing and all BBP components were found deep in the wounds with marking powder surrounding fracture edges. Both patients healed without infection.

Conclusion: Surgical exploration of penetrating BBP injuries is recommended to remove marking powder, fabric, plastic, and potentially other forms of contamination. Fracture stabilization should adhere to existing guidelines pertaining to open contaminated wound conditions.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Foreign Bodies* / diagnostic imaging
Foreign Bodies* / surgery
Fractures, Open* / diagnostic imaging
Fractures, Open* / surgery
Humans
Male
Wounds, Gunshot* / complications
Wounds, Gunshot* / diagnostic imaging
Wounds, Gunshot* / surgery