The dense and normal-size shadow shows the bullet to be near the plate and probably in the muscles superficially behind and below the lesser trochanter.
As the prominent outline of the lesser trochanter shows that the leg was in external rotation when the negative was made, it is evident that, with the rotation back to the anatomical position, the projection of the shadow of the bullet would fall close to or in line with the shaft of the femur; the position of the bullet is behind the femur.
The treatment is conservative, with no trouble to be expected from infection.
Plate 54.
Rifle—Plate 54.
LOWER EXTREMITY.
Gunshot Fracture of the Lower End of the Shaft of the Femur.
The course of the bullet was anteroposterior through the axis of the femur. Several large fragments which were not displaced were separated by the force of impact. The separation of the fragments and the overriding of the ends of the proximal and distal large fragments were due to bearing bodily weight or to muscular contraction.
The projectile causing the wound was moving with the velocity of mid range. The wound of exit was not lacerated.