BackgroundGunshot wounds require surgeons to decide whether to remove or leave bullet fragments in the body. Surgeons also decide how to follow up with patients who have lead fragments retained in their body. Current literature recommends to remove only intra-articular fragments without the need for a follow-up for patients with the metal retained. Therefore, this study investigates chronic lead toxicity for gunshot wounds.MethodsThe study was performed in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil, between 2013 and 2015. It was a case-control study that included 45 victims of gunshot lesions with metallic fragments retained for more than 6 months. The 45 controls were matched for gender, age, and race. We compared the lead blood levels and frequency of symptoms.ResultsThe control group had average blood lead levels of 2.17 μg/dL (95% Confidence Interval [CI]; 1.71–2.63) and median 2.1 μg/dL. The case group had average values of 9.01 μg/dL (CI; 6.07–11.96) and median values of 6.5 μg/dL with p-values < = 0.001. The case group reported the following more frequently: irritancy, bad mood, headache, memory losses, daylight drowsiness, myalgia, weakness, abdominal pain, joint pain, trembling, tingling limbs. There was statistical significance for the differences of symptoms frequencies and for odds ratio between groups.ConclusionsAlthough the mean lead levels found were lower than the current laboratory references, low levels have been associated with both rising morbidity and mortality. The WHO stated: “There is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe”. In conclusion, this work showed that bullets retained in the body are not innocuous. There are impacts in the blood lead levels and symptoms related to it, even with few fragments, extra-articular located or existing with low blood lead levels.
Resumo Objetivo Descrever e associar as características das lesões multiligamentares de joelho com o perfil do paciente e mecanismo de trauma. Métodos Trata-se de um estudo transversal que avaliou 82 pacientes com lesões multiligamentares do joelho de setembro de 2016 até setembro de 2018. As variáveis coletadas foram idade, gênero, eixo mecânico, lateralidade, arco de movimento, mecanismo do trauma, lesões associadas, ligamentos afetados e afastamento do trabalho. Resultados A amostra incluiu pacientes de 16 a 58 anos, com média de 29,7 anos, e os homens foram os mais afetados, correspondendo a 92,7% dos casos. O mecanismo de trauma mais comum foi acidente motociclístico (45,1%). O ligamento mais lesado foi o ligamento cruzado anterior (80,5%), seguido do ligamento cruzado posterior (77,1%), do canto posterolateral (61,0%) e do ligamento colateral tibial (26,8%). O tipo de luxação mais frequente era o KD IIIL (30,4%). Apenas 1 paciente apresentou lesão vascular, e 13 (15,9%) apresentaram lesões neurológicas. A maioria das vítimas foi afastada do trabalho (52,4%). Conclusão Há grande diferença entre os pacientes que apresentam lesão multiligamentar no Brasil em relação ao encontrado nos estudos internacionais. Desta forma, convém realizar mais estudos específicos sobre o tema com a nossa população, de modo a aperfeiçoar o tratamento destes pacientes.
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