Treatment of Secondary Hip Arthritis from Shell Fragment and Gunshot Injury in the Syrian Civil War

Abstract

Background: In gunshot and shell fragment injuries to the hip joint, orthopaedic intervention includes wound assessment and care, osteosynthesis of fractures, and avoiding of infection and osteoarthritis. Individuals injured in the syrian civil war were frequently transferred to the author's institution in neighboring city. Orthopaedic trauma exposures were determined in approximately 30% of these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the patients with secondary hip arthritis due to prior gunshot and shell fragment (shrapnel) injuries who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 26 patients (24 males, 2 females) who underwent hip arthroplasty due to prior gunshot and shell fragment injuries from November 2013 to January 2019. For all patients Harris Hip Score (HHS) were evaluated preoperatively and after surgery. Results: Mean age was 31,5 (range, 19-48) years. The mean preoperative HHS was 52.95 points and the mean postoperative HHS was 79.92 points at the final follow-up after surgery. Patients with shell fragment injuries to the hip joint, had higher infection rates but it is not statistically significant.Conclusions: An anatomic reduction of the fracture may not be possible in these cases as a result of significant bone and/or cartilage loss. Total hip arthroplasty can be done after gunshot and shell fragment related posttraumatic arthritis. It is efective treatment choice to reduce pain and improve function but the surgeon must be very carefull because of high rate of infection.