Pediatric Firearm Injuries to the Extremity

In this episode, Sam Ashoo, MD interviews Rawad Rayes, MD and Eva Tovar Hirashima, MD, MPH – two of the authors of the August 2022 PEMP article on Pediatric Firearm Injuries to the Extremity: Management in the Emergency Department.Episode Outline:How common are pediatric firearm injuries? What is the most common location of these injuries? Is there much literature published on this topic? Epidemiology What’s been the trend in pediatric firearm injuries over the past 10 years? Do we have any idea how/why these are occurring (ie, accidental, intentional, etc)Terminology: For those unfamiliar with firearms (table 1)Ballistics: Mechanisms of damage. Pre-hospital careTrauma center transportPrehospital hemorrhage control -- Combat application tourniquet, anything else? ED EvaluationSIPA -- What is it and why use it? Primary survey -- Tachycardia -> delayed cap refill -> hypotension in children? Secondary SurveyDiagnostic Studies: Damage Control ResuscitationWound Care -- Do we remove projectiles? Can they stay in? Antibiotics Joint InvolvementCompartment Syndrome -- 3 As vs 6 PsRhabdomyolysisControversiesCTA for all injuries? Hemostatic devices -- Any role for these in the ED?