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. 2021 May 10;6(1):e000754.
doi: 10.1136/tsaco-2021-000754. eCollection 2021.

Penetrating deep pelvic injury due to "less-lethal" beanbag munitions: a case report and policy implications

Christopher S Schenck  1 , Soum D Lokeshwar  1   2 , Matthew D Riedel  1   3 , Kimberly A Davis  1   4
Affiliations

Penetrating deep pelvic injury due to "less-lethal" beanbag munitions: a case report and policy implications

Christopher S Schenck et al. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. .

Abstract

"Less-lethal" munitions are designed to cause incapacitation and are often used by law enforcement officers. Although these munitions are not designed to cause severe injury, recent reports have demonstrated that they can cause severe injury, permanent disability, and death. The long-term consequences of injury due to less-lethal munitions are not well understood. We present a case of osteomyelitis and pelvic abscess secondary to a retained beanbag munition following penetrating injury in the setting of a patient with delayed presentation for care. The patient underwent surgical removal of the retained beanbag munition and irrigation and debridement of the osteomyelitis and pelvic abscess with an excellent functional outcome. We discuss the public health and policy implications of serious injury due to less-lethal munitions.

Keywords: bone; firearms; fractures; infections; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: KAD is the Associate Editor of Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open for Challenges in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Entry wound about the left hip with purulent drainage and granulation tissue growth.
Figure 2
Figure 2
X-ray (A) and CT of the pelvis revealed a 2.3×1.4×4.5 cm foreign body abutting the urinary bladder (B) with adjacent cortical margin irregularity of the acetabulum and left superior pubic ramus (C) concerning for osteomyelitis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Beanbag munition and shell casing removed from the deep pelvis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Intraoperative fluoroscopy of the pelvis under no stress (A) and stress (B). The superior ramus fracture was found to be stable.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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