Case study of complex ballistic trauma with combined genitourinary and digestive injuries: surgical management and outcomes at 6 months.

Abstract

We report the case of a 28-year-old military serviceman who sustained a complex pelvic gunshot wound. The projectile entered through the anteromedial aspect of the right thigh and subsequently traversed the prostate, created two distinct bladder perforations (in the peri-cervical region and the dome), and perforated the sigmoid colon. The clinical presentation was characterized by an inability to void since the time of injury, in the absence of a palpable bladder, associated with abdominal pain. Management involved an exploratory laparotomy with primary repair of both the bladder and sigmoid colon injuries. The postoperative course was uneventful, with an excellent functional outcome at the 6-month follow-up. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of complex pelvic gunshot wounds.