$Unique_ID{BRK00928}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Should a B-B in the Leg be Removed?}
$Subject{B-B shot surgery Accidents accident wound wounds skin toy guns gun}
$Volume{O-20}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Should a B-B in the Leg be Removed?


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QUESTION:  When my husband was a boy he got shot in the leg with a B-B gun.
Believe it or not the B-B is still there, and he is 30 years old.  It is right
under the skin of his lower calf.  He can move it up or down and it sometimes
moves by itself.  Is there a danger in this?  Should he have it removed or
just forget about it?  Thanks for your opinion.

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ANSWER:  I still play the game by the rule "If it isn't broken, don't fix it."
Apparently your husband has been carrying around this B-B for some time, and
the fact that it is so freely moveable tells us that there has been no
inflection or inflammation that might have created fibrous tissue that would
have "glued" the B-B in place.  There are many cases in medical literature
that demonstrate that foreign bodies of this kind may remain in an individual
for a lifetime without causing any additional problems.  I suppose that its
presence just below the skin just seems to cry out for a little slice and a
quick removal, but the possibility of introducing an infection into this space
or poor healing after surgery must be taken into consideration as well.
Unless it is causing your husband distress, my vote is for leaving it in
place.  However, your story gives me the opportunity to once again make the
plea that all the rules of safety be respected when dealing with these
dangerous "toy" guns.  While a B-B under the skin of the leg may not be cause
for concern, the same missile in a more crucial spot, say the eye for example,
might have created a lifetime tragedy.  Parents should see that their
children's play is supervised when the possibility of accidents from the
playthings is present.  Then the next generation of medical columnists won't
have to worry about removing B-B's.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.