Missile wounds of the femoral head in children.

' 2005 AMC MØdia Inc. M trauma in children is uncommon, but its incidence has risen over the past decade primarily owing to the increased availability of guns and the many armed conflicts occurring in various parts of the world. Such injuries in children are frequently compounded by damage to the adjacent physes, resulting in complete or partial growth arrest. Treatment of such osseous injury must be directed to preserving both the adjacent articular cartilage and maintaining the integrity of the physis. One of the most difficult anatomical sites to treat for injuries secondary to missile injury in children is the hip joint, as the wound involves soft tissue, articular surface, physis and femoral head and neck. Because of this difficulty and the lack of any literature addressing missile wounds of the hip specifically, we felt that our experience with 2 such children would benefit other surgeons who might have to treat similar injuries.