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Russo-Ukrainian war is associated with severe injuries to the chest. Isolated chest injuries are associated with high mortality or advanced invalidization due to the severity of the trauma. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the experience and the challenges in diagnosis and management of the combat patient with gunshot injury to the lungs with subsequent migration of the shrapnel projectile to the segmental bronchus and its bronchoscopic removal by using forceps. A male patient 44 years of age was injured at an artillery strike in East Ukraine. The patient was evacuated to the Forward Surgical Team (Role 1) facility within one hour after the injury. The bronchoscopy was performed and to our surprise, the metal fragment in the lumen of the right segmental S2 bronchi was visualized at bronchoscopy, indicating its migration from the first place. The decision was made to attempt to remove the metal fragment endoscopically. At bronchoscopy, the metal fragment was caught by the endoscopic forceps and therefore removed endoscopically. The time of endoscopic removal of the metal fragment was 8 min. Removal of a foreign body (metal fragment) of gunshot origin from the lumen of a segmental bronchus by using bronchoscopy with endoscopic forceps is a rare phenomenon. The use of minimally invasive technologies in the treatment of gunshot blind penetrating wounds of the chest contributes to the reduction of operative trauma and shortens the time of operative treatment. • A migration of the metal projectile from lung to bronchus is rare and severe in patients with gunshot injury. • Endoscopic removal of metal projectile migrated from lung to bronchus might be considered in selected cases with gunshot injury. • Gunshot injury to the chest might be managed by the minimally invasive surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-traumatic rupture or other injuries to the larynx are very rare disorder. According to the published series, there are only 15 cases reported with such kind of injury to the larynx. Despite the rarity of the non-traumatic larynx fracture, it is important to elucidate adequate management for the patients with such emergency. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the features of clinical manifestations, examination, and surgical treatment of a case of spontaneous longitudinal rupture of the thyroid cartilage. A 54-year-old male patient presented with chief complaints of pain in the front surface of the neck, difficulty swallowing and breathing during physical exertion, hyperemia of the skin on the front surface of the neck, and the presence of subcutaneous emphysema. 20 h after the onset of the symptoms, the patient reported breathing difficulties that appeared during physical exertion, and the patient walked to the hospital. Computed tomography revealed a longitudinal rupture of the thyroid cartilage, emphysema of the neck, and the presence of air in the anterior-upper mediastinum. The defect of the ruptured thyroid cartilage was treated by suturing as well as by myoplasty using sternocleidomastoid muscle. Our case report is in line with others, showing that patient with spontaneous rupture of the thyroid cartilage is the surgical emergency. Our approach of using myoplasty was not presented before. This case report adds evidence and knowledge about such rare disorders as spontaneous rupture the thyroid cartilage rupture. It is useful to apply the technique of myoplasty with sternocleidomastoid muscle flaps, ensuring reliable sealing of the damaged area reducing the risk of failure, and inflammatory complications, and supporting neck functions in the postoperative period. • A spontaneous rupture of the larynx cartilages is rare and severe disorder. • Thyroid cartilage spontaneous rupture might be treated by suturing and myoplasty. • Surgery is appropriate treatment option for the thyroid cartilage spontaneous rupture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular injuries to extremities are common in armed conflicts. Such kind of injury is associated with a high risk of critical ischemia, limb amputation, and high morbidity. There is a clinical challenge for the management of vascular injuries to extremities in ongoing warfare due to limited medical resources. A 34 years old male received a gunshot injury to both low extremities on March, 23rd 2022 in a battlefield area 30 km away from Kyiv city. CAT tourniquet was applied to stop the bleeding and the patient was transported to Level II by ambulance 40 min after the injury. The patient was diagnosed with a gunshot injury to the left superficial femoral artery (SFA) followed by primary surgical debridement and temporary arterial shunting at Level II hospital. Then the patient was evacuated to Level IV hospital, diagnosed with an injury to the right popliteal artery, and underwent vascular reconstruction. Arterial shunting is a well-known approach to prevent critical ischemia and limb amputations of injured extremities in both combat and civilian patients. This case report provides evidence for the utility of temporary arterial shunting in combat conditions, which is supported by data from the larger cohorts. We consider temporary vascular shunting as a damage control measure to be associated with high chances of limb salvage in ongoing warfare. Our study demonstrated the utility of temporary arterial shunting in combat patients with gunshot wounds in ongoing warfare, which could be performed even in case of limited medical resources. • Gunshot wound to the major vessels is associated with high risk of lethal outcome. • Temporary arterial shunting could be performed in combat settings even in limited medical resources. • Damage control surgery is useful approach in case of severe vascular injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A gunshot wound is the most common injury in armed conflicts, resulting in severe trauma and increased morbidity usually due to damage to major vessels. Gunshot injury could be associated with the projectile location in one anatomical area, but the initial inlet place in another. A 33-years old male patient received gunshot injuries to the left axillary area of the chest and left upper extremity in the battlefield area near Kyiv (Ukraine). The patient was diagnosed with multiple gunshot injuries, as judged from the presence of inlet and outlet holes in the chest and left upper arm. Without having any major complaints, the patient was examined by chest X-ray, showing a metal density fragment in the area of the first left rib, behind the left clavicle and adjacent to the left common carotid artery (CCA) and internal jugular vein (IJV). Surgery revealed 25 mm retained bullet in the area between CCA and IJV. Our case report is in line with others, showing that identification of the bullet or projectile fragment in unexpected locations was made by chance or due to routine application of protocols for the clinical evaluation of combat patients, including those without clinical signs or specific complaints. A gunshot injury could be associated with an unusual bullet trajectory. A routine whole-body CT scan or chest and abdominal X-ray should be performed for all patients with gunshot injury of any localization for early detection of a possible retained bullet. • An unusual bullet trajectory might be seen in patients with a gunshot injury. • Gunshot injury to the neck might be fatal. • A whole-body CT scan or X-ray is useful to detect hidden gunshot projectiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Russo-Ukrainian war is associated with both severe injuries and severe bone defects due to frequent application of high-energy weapon. • 3D-printing and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants could be used in management of combat patients with severe bone defects > 10 cm. • Closed reduction, percutaneous lag screw for distinct compression, ilizarov external fixation are appropriate methods to treat severe bone defects. • Fibula on a vascular pedicle could be used as a graft to replace severe bone defects in combat patients with injuries to the long bones. Russo-Ukrainian war is associated with application of high-energy weapon, causing severe multifragmental injuries to the bones an associating with severe bone defects. The aim of the study was to evaluate various methods to treat combat patients with severe defects of humerus and to demonstrate the experience of orthopedic war surgeons in managing gunshot injuries to the humerus defects in the ongoing war. A 24 patients were active-duty military personnel of Armed Forces of Ukraine. These patients were diagnosed with severe humerus defects due to gunshot injury in battlefield zone in various areas of Ukraine. Data was collected within period between February, 24th 2022 till January, 01st 2023. The following approaches were applied to replace bone defect: preoperative 3D printing with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) as orthobiological material; closed reduction, percutaneous lag screw and Ilizarov external fixation; vascularized fibula grafting. Data analyses of the segmental defects of humerus showed 5 cm defect in 3 (13 %) patients, from 5 to 10 cm in 4 (17 %) patients, over 10 cm in 17 (71 %) patients. Analyses were performed in these 17 (71 %) patients, showing 5 patients treated with 3D-printed PEEK implants, 6 patients with vascular-pedicle graft of fibula, 6 patients with closed reduction, percutaneous lag screw, Ilizarov external fixation. Osteomyelitis was diagnosed in one case (20 %) after the use of PEEK implants, requiring to remove both PEEK implant and metal implants followed by application of the antibiotic joint spacers and Ex-Fix fragments of the humerus. In our opinion, the osteomyelitis happened due to inadequate debridement of the wound and non-compliance with the conversion criteria (replacement of the fixation method). The mean length of hospital stay was 5.5 months for patients treated with 3D-printed PEEK implants. Closed reduction, percutaneous lag screw and Ilizarov external fixation as well as vascularized fibula grafting are associated with good outcomes in management of the patients with severe humerus defect due to gunshot injury. 3D printing and PEEK implants could also be considered for the reconstructions of the humerus multifragmental fractures with a bone defect over 10 cm associated with gunshot injury due to high-energy weapon in the war settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]