Injury circumstances

Roman was wounded near the village of Synkivka in the Kupiansk district. While carrying out his mission and leading fellow soldiers to their positions, the unit came under artillery fire.

He sustained an injury to his left arm, applied a tourniquet himself, and began to withdraw. During evacuation, he repeatedly came under fire. In total, he endured around twenty incoming strikes while moving out.

He managed to reach shelter, where he waited for evacuation and was later transported out on armored vehicles.

Medical diagnosis

Consequences of a gunshot shrapnel injury to the left forearm with nonunion of the radius, bone tissue defect, and formation of a false joint.

The condition is also complicated by damage to the radial nerve, limited joint mobility, and partial loss of hand function.

What this means in plain language:

• the bone did not heal after the fracture;
• a so-called “false joint” formed between the bone fragments, preventing normal function;
• there is a loss of bone tissue;
• nerve damage affects hand movement;
• the arm has partially lost its function.

This is a complex condition that will not improve on its own and requires repeat surgical intervention.

Clinical solution

Open decortication of the nonunion site, bone realignment, fixation with plates, and bone autografting — a complex reconstructive surgery.

What this approach involves:

• removing the area where the bone failed to heal;
• restoring the correct position of the bone;
• stabilizing it with specialized plates;
• adding the patient’s own bone tissue to repair the defect;
• giving the bone a chance to heal properly and restore arm function.

After surgery, long-term recovery and rehabilitation are essential to regain as much mobility and strength in the hand as possible.