Critical thinking
a 38 year old male presents to the emergency department following a hunting accident, with a 12 gauge shotgun wound
to the anterior right thigh.
on examination, the patient is pale, irritable and in severe pain. blood pressure is 88/50, with pulse 120 beats per
minute. weight is 80 kg. multiple blood soaked pressure dressings are in place over the entry site in the anterior mid-
femoral region, and packed within a cavity of the exit wound posteriorly. the thigh is markedly swollen, and the limb is
numb and pale below the level of the injury without a palpable pulse in the ankle or foot. movement of the limb cannot
be assessed due to pain. radiographs show a comminuted extra-articular fracture of the distal femoral diaphysis,
surrounded by multiple metallic fragments and extensive soft tissue swelling,
1. (inquiry)
name at least four major complications resulting from this injury
2. (analysis)
name all anatomic structures along the path of injury.
3. (synthesis)
which classes of tissues do each of these structures represent?
4. (product)
discuss the potential for regeneration of the each of the classes of tissues above.