Air Gun Pellet Research Articles

Carotid artery injury from an airgun pellet: a case report and review of the literature

Historically airguns were powerful weapons. Modern models, though less lethal, are still capable of inflicting serious or life threatening injuries. Current United Kingdom legislation fails to take into the account the capacity for airguns to maim and kill. We believe that airguns should be governed by the same law that applies to firearms. We present a case of a potentially fatal airgun injury to the neck. The airgun pellet caused a defect in the anterior wall of the external carotid artery, which required rapid access and surgical repair. We discuss the mechanism of airgun injury and review the literature in terms of investigation and management.

Ultrasound guided removal of an airgun pellet from a patient's right cheek

This case report describes the use of real-time intraoperative ultrasonography to guide the removal of an airgun pellet embedded in the right cheek of a 20-year-old man. This patient had previously undergone two unsuccessful surgical attempts to have this pellet removed via blind exploration. Through the use of ultrasonography, the pellet's positional relationship throughout the procedure was accurately defined with respect to important soft and hard anatomical structures, as well as to the surgical instruments used, enabling its very efficient removal. This technique is safe, easy, cost effective and accurate, and thus minimizes post-operative morbidity and the risk of surgical complications.

An Air Gun Pellet Retained in the Heart: A Case Report

We report the rare case of an air gun pellet retained within the myocardium. The pellet passed through the right ventricle and the interventricular septum and was retained in the posterior left ventricular wall. The patient presented with cardiac tamponade requiring urgent surgical treatment. The case report is followed by a review of the pertinent literature.

Conventional radiographs: are they still the standard in localization of projectiles?

The penetration of air gun pellets in facial soft tissue can cause major problems during the removal of foreign bodies, although conventional radiography, computed tomography, image-guided surgical removal, and ultrasound have been applied to facilitate the procedure. It was the aim of the present case report to introduce a modified intraoperative method for the localization of air gun pellets, based on the use of radiopaque markers in conventional radiographs. A 66-year-old patient attempted to commit suicide by using an air gun. The pellet hit the right temporal region. A computed tomographic (CT) scan was acquired to localize the foreign body. The first attempt to remove the pellet through the penetrating wound failed. Because of a dislodgement of the pellet, the CT scan could no longer be used for the localization of the air gun pellet. As the air gun pellet was positioned under the zygomatic arch, ultrasound was unable to identify its position. Successful intraoperative localization of the projectile was performed after fixation of radiopaque markers to the skin in the region of the estimated localization, with conventional radiographs in 2 planes, acquired with a mobile dental x-ray device. Although the markers remained attached to the patient as reference makers, the air gun pellet was removed easily. The use of radiopaque markers in conventional radiographs in 2 planes allows fast, intraoperative localization of radiopaque foreign bodies within soft tissue. The procedure can be carried out with a conventional x-ray device that should be available in every oral and maxillofacial practice. The use of reference markers should be considered a standard procedure for the localization of radiopaque foreign bodies in the head and neck.

Perineal Sonography to Localize Airgun Pellet

A teenage boy presented to the emergency department with an accidental self-inflicted airgun injury to his perineum. Examination showed a small entry wound in the scrotal skin and the testes were normal. X-ray of the pelvis showed the pellet in the perineum without definite localization. Perineal sonography was performed preoperatively, which precisely localized the pellet in the perineal soft tissues for easy exploration and removal.

An unusual air gun injury to the ethmoid sinus

We report an air gun pellet in the ethmoid sinus. The entrance point was concealed in the conjunctiva of the medial canthus, sparing the eye and skin. The pellet traversed the ethmoid and was stopped by the cribriform plate. It was removed by an endoscopic approach without complications. The literature is reviewed. A high index of suspicion is required to identify penetrating foreign bodies in patients walking in with low-velocity gun injuries.

Aortic foreign body (airgun pellet) embolism in a cat

A five-year-old female domestic shorthair cat presented with clinical signs typical of an aortic saddle thromboembolism. An echocardiogram and thoracic radiographs excluded cardiac disease as a source of the thrombus. Two heavy metal opacity, pellet-like objects were seen in the thoracic and abdominal radiographs. Abdominal ultrasound demonstrated occlusion of aortic blood flow by the abdominal pellet but could not indicate whether this was due to a penetrating aortic wound or pellet embolisation. A necropsy confirmed a penetrating left ventricular cardiac wound with subsequent embolisation of the pellet to the abdominal aorta.

Orbital foreign body masquerading as conjunctival melanoma 60 years after injury

A 74-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of a pigmented conjunctival lesion on his left eye. The lesion was initially suspicious for conjunctival melanoma. The patient admitted to a remote history of trauma from a airgun pellet over 60 years ago. Anterior examination revealed a 6 x 6 mm pigmented left conjunctival lesion and B-scan of the lesion was suggestive of a retained orbital foreign body. The lesion was removed through a transcaruncular medial orbitomy and pathology showed a retained orbital foreign body. A newly pigmented conjunctival lesion although initially concerning for melanoma represented a retained orbital body that surfaced many years after the initial orbital trauma.

Diabolo-Verletzung mit Lokalisation des Fremdkörpers im Bereich der Orbitaspitze - ein Fallbericht

Air-gun injuries with localisation of the pellet at the apex of the orbital cavity can cause difficult decisions in diagnostics and therapy, especially if you decide to retain the foreign body. We report on a 14-year-old boy who was hit by an air-gun pellet. The foreign body went into the left orbit without damaging the globe or the optic nerve. The visual acuity was 1.0, the mobility was only slightly disturbed. A systemic therapy with antibiotics and corticosteroids could stop a series of relapses very well. Foreign bodies of the orbit can be retained if it is possible to deal with the surrounding reactions properly by conservative therapy.

Accidental lodgment of an air gun pellet in the maxillary sinus of a 6‐year old girl: a case report

Abstract – Air gun, although considered a toy, can cause injuries ranging from trivial to very grievous. The type and severity of injuries depend on the type of air gun used, the distance at which it is fired, and the anatomic site at which the pellet hits. An interesting case involving a young girl, who was accidentally hit by an air gun pellet at a village fair, is described. The pellet penetrated the maxillary bone to be lodged in the sinus. The treatment strategy along with literature review on short‐ and long‐term complications of air gun injuries is presented.

WITHDRAWN: Ultrasound-guided removal of an air gun pellet from the temporal fossa: a technical note

WITHDRAWN: Ultrasound-guided removal of an air gun pellet from the temporal fossa: a technical note

Intraoperative ultrasound-guided retrieval of an airgun pellet from the tongue: a case report

Real-time intraoperative ultrasonography was used to detect and facilitate removal of an airgun pellet from the tongue of a 14-year-old boy. Diagnostic ultrasound was crucial in clarifying the positional relation between the foreign body and the instrument used, enabling safe, precise and rapid retrieval during a potentially hazardous surgical operation.

PLAIES ABDOMINALES PAR ECLATS DE PLOMB

We report a case of a patient with air gun pellet injuries to the abdomen. This was treated conservatively, and the pellet was passed per rectum 24 hours after the injury. then the patient evolved favourably. Gunshot wounds to the abdomen do not necessarily warrant immediate laparotomy, but conservative management using signs of peritoneal irritation or progressive abdominal tenderness are the best indicators of the need for operation.

Cardiac injury from an air gun pellet: A case report: M.A. Mingorance, F.J.C. Casado, and J.C.V. Mandias, el al. Eur J Pediatr Surg 9:184–185, (June), 1999

Cardiac injury from an air gun pellet: A case report: M.A. Mingorance, F.J.C. Casado, and J.C.V. Mandias, el al. Eur J Pediatr Surg 9:184–185, (June), 1999

Air gun pellet injuries: The safety of MR imaging

The ferromagnetism, and therefore the safety in a magnetic resonance (MR) examination, of the most widely available air gun pellets has been tested. While many are made of lead and are not ferromagnetic, some contain steel and are deflected strongly in a magnetic field. There must therefore be careful consideration before undertaking MR examinations of patients with embedded air gun pellets.

Air-gun pellet injuries to the head and neck

Air-gun pellet injuries (AgPI) of the central nervous system (CNS) are rare but catastrophic events. They occur mostly in children and young adults. The entrance is usually either through the orbit or through the neck and the entry wound is so small that it may be disregarded on physical examination in the emergency room. Early recognition and correct management of the possible complications of AgPIs is important and may prevent a poor outcome. METHODS We intend to present our experience with 16 cases of AgPIs of the head and neck referred to the department of neurosurgery during the last 15 years. The characteristic findings on physical examination of the cases and the imaging studies performed are described. Special management undertaken for the rare complications are mentioned and a short literature review is performed on each entity. RESULTS All our cases happened in the first and second decades of life and only in boys playing with toy guns. There were 12 head and face and four neck wounds. Damaged globe that had to be exenterated was the earliest complication, handled by ophthalmologists (four cases). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, meningitis, brain abscess formation, development of traumatic aneurysm (TA), carotid-cavernous sinus fistula (CCF), wandering intracerebral and intraventricular pellet, and splitting of the pellet after striking hard bone were the complications noted. In addition to plain X-ray films, computed tomography (CT) scanning and angiography were diagnostic procedures of choice. CONCLUSIONS The present series of patients is the largest collection of AgPIs to the head and neck reported in the literature in which nearly all the possible complications of such injuries have been reviewed. Early recognition and awareness of the possible cumbersome complications of such a minor penetrating wound can prevent major catastrophies in this young group of victims.

Experimental thoracoabdominal airgun wounds in a porcine model.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are 31,000 airgun injuries annually, 19,000 of which occur in children under 14 years of age. Case reports in the literature include 235 serious and nine lethal pediatric injuries. No experimental model of thoracoabdominal airgun pellet perforation exists. A 60-pound newly killed pig was selected as a model for pediatric airgun injuries. Two commonly available .177-caliber airguns were fired from point blank, 2.5 feet, and 5 feet. A chronograph was used to measure impact velocities for pellets fired at the already-killed pig. Autopsy study of organ wounding was completed. Perforation velocities with point-tip pellets were 407 ft/sec for the thoracic wall and 399 ft/sec for the abdomen. Of the 18 pellets shot at the chest, eight passed through the chest wall, causing 15 organ injuries. Eleven of the 18 pellets perforated the abdominal wall, producing 49 organ injuries. Airguns create serious intracavitary organ injuries in a porcine model. Moreover, ballistic research is possible in unusual surroundings, such as a packing plant.

Gunshot injuries in horses: 22 cases (1971-1993)

Summary Twenty-two horses were examined because of firearm injuries. Nine had been shot with .22- caliber bullets, 2 with BB pellets, 6 with buckshot, 1 with a, 35-caliber bullet, and 1 with an airgun pellet. Injury was confined to the skin or skeletal muscles in 8 horses. Of these, 7 returned to their previous use. In 14 horses, injuries to additional structures were incurred, including the sinus and pharynx (n = 2), mandible (n = 1), tooth (n = 1), aorta (n = 1), eye (n = 3), tibia (n = 1), gastrointestinal tract (n = 3), joint (n = 1), and trachea (n = 1). The 3 horses that had only eye injuries were discharged to their owners. Of the other 11 horses with injuries to deep/vital structures, 3 died, 5 were euthanatized, and 3 survived.

Foreign body in the ethmoid sinus

An air gun pellet lodged in the posterior ethmoid sinus in a 1-year-old child is described. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery enabled the removal of the pellet, obviating an external ethmoidectomy.

Clinical and neuroradiological correlations in a patient with a wandering retained air gun pellet in the brain

The authors present the case of a patient with an air gun pellet wandered from ventricular system in the subarachnoid space of C2–C3, where it was removed successfully by an interlaminotomy.