Battlefield extremity injuries in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Objective

Extremity injuries account for the majority of wounds incurred during US armed conflicts. Information regarding the severity and short-term outcomes of patients with extremity wounds, however, is limited. The aim of the present study was to describe patients with battlefield extremity injuries in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and to compare characteristics of extremity injury patients with other combat wounded.

Patients and methods

Data were obtained from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Combat Trauma Registry (CTR) for patients who received treatment for combat wounds at Navy-Marine Corps facilities in Iraq between September 2004 and February 2005. Battlefield extremity injuries were classified according to type, location, and severity; patient demographic, injury-specific, and short-term outcome data were analysed. Upper and lower extremity injuries were also compared.

Results

A total of 935 combat wounded patients were identified; 665 (71%) sustained extremity injury. Overall, multiple wounding was common (an average of 3 wounds per patient), though more prevalent amongst patients with extremity injury than those with other injury (75% vs. 56%, P < .001). Amongst the 665 extremity injury patients, 261 (39%) sustained injury to the upper extremities, 223 (34%) to the lower extremities, and 181 (27%) to both the upper and lower extremities. Though the total number of patients with upper extremity injury was higher than lower extremity injury, the total number of extremity wounds (n = 1654) was evenly distributed amongst the upper and lower extremities (827 and 827 wounds, respectively). Further, lower extremity injuries were more likely than the upper extremity injuries to be coded as serious to fatal (AIS > 2, P < .001).

Conclusions

Extremity injuries continue to account for the majority of combat wounds. Compared with other conflicts, OIF has seen increased prevalence of patients with upper extremity injuries. Wounds to the lower extremities, however, are more serious. Further research on the risks and outcomes associated with extremity injury is necessary to enhance the planning and delivery of combat casualty medical care.     

Diagnosis and surgical strategy in injuries of the heart and pericardium

Results of the emergency diagnosis and surgical treatment of wounds of the heart and pericardium were summed up in 207 wounded during twenty years of work. It was found that injuries of the heart and pericardium were diagnosed in 42% of cases according to clinical symptoms, while emergency thoracotomy during the first minutes after admission to the surgical hospital was performed in 55-60% of wounded to the heart. About half wounded at the moment of admission to the hospital were at the state of relative stabilization of hemodynamic indices and had no clinical symptoms of wounds to the heart. In this group of patients injuries of the heart and pericardium were diagnosed on the basis of additional investigations, extrapleural pericardiotomy (fenestration of the pericardium) being most reliable. The results of treatment of wounded to the heart can be improved at the expense of acute surgical strategy which is determined by the stable state of the wounded, character of the myocardium injury and associated wounds.     

Causes of complications and fatal outcome after combat gunshot wounds of the internal organs

Under examination there were 110 wounded with battle gunshot injuries of organs of the abdominal cavity. Among them there were 14 patients with thoracoabdominal wounds. Injuries of the internal and other organs were diagnosed in 39 wounded. Ten patients had injuries of the internal organs and upper extremity, 11 patients had injuries of the lower extremity, 4 patients had wounds in the pelvic area, 7--of the trunk, 2--of the skull and face, 5--of the chest. Postoperative complications developed in 28%. Relaparotomy was performed in 13.6% of the patients. Postoperative lethality was 15.3%.     

The evaluation of casualties from Operation Iraqi Freedom on return to the continental United States from March to June 2003

BACKGROUND: Most seriously wounded US Army casualties from the Iraqi theater of operations come through Walter Reed Army Medical Center on their return to the United States. General surgery and orthopaedic surgery services have developed a multidisciplinary team approach to triage and treatment of incoming casualties. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective database of returning casualties to Walter Reed Army Medical Center from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) from March 1 to July 1, 2003. RESULTS: Of 294 casualties seen, 119 were triaged to inpatient status and treated within 1 hour of arrival; mean age 26.6 +/- 6.2 years (range 23 to 37). Time from original battlefield injury was a mean of 8 days (range 3 to 28 days). Forty-six (39%) sustained gunshot wounds, 37 (31%) sustained blast and shrapnel injuries, and 41 (34%) had blunt/motor vehicle collision mechanisms. There were a total of 184 wounded locations in these 119 casualties; of these, there were 29 head and neck, 25 chest, 20 abdomen, 74 lower extremity, and 36 upper extremity. Twenty-eight casualties (23%) required emergent surgical procedures on the night of arrival. Another 30 (25%) required an urgent surgical procedure within 48 hours of arrival. CONCLUSIONS: Followup surgical procedures were urgently or emergently required in 43% of admitted battlefield casualties from OIF on transfer to Level V care in the continental United States. The injury pattern of wounds from this engagement is described. The Walter Reed Army Medical Center system of incoming battlefield casualty evaluation using multidisciplinary teams is successful in expediting care and ensuring evaluation of the full range of potential injuries.     

Kriegschirurgische Versorgung von Gef??verletzungen der Extremit?ten

Delivery of combat health support means a challenge for personnel and material. Past military conflicts have provided lessons for civilian surgical practice, whereas nowadays civilian experiences influence military surgical practice in the austere environment of today??s battlefield. Due to high explosives, ammunition and high-velocity missiles and also improved body armor, military surgeons have to deal with devasting extremity trauma, which has not been seen routinely in former conflicts because survival was not possible due to core injuries. Extremity injuries represent 50?C75% of all injuries sustained by soldiers and 15% of wounded soldiers die of exsanguination from extremity wounds. The bleeding from some of these injuries can be arrested by a tourniquet, direct pressure and/or hemostatic dressing application in the field allowing for casualty evacuation. Nevertheless, 4.4?C7% of all injuries need definitive vascular surgical treatment because of ongoing life and limb-threatening hemorrhaging and ischemia. From routine ligation of vascular injuries in World Wars I and II surgeons adapted to principles of in-theater repair of arterial and venous injuries in Korea and Vietnam. Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) provided the first opportunities since Vietnam for the development of a registry of vascular injuries, the re-evaluation of established vascular surgical principles under austere conditions and adaptation where necessary. The aim of the following article is to provide information on the current management of wartime vascular injuries on the basis of U.S. experiences in the on-going conflicts OIF/OEF.     

Experience of treating gunshot wounds of large vessels in Afghanistan

The problem of treating injuries of large vessels in times of peace has been sufficiently well developed both in theoretical and practical aspects. In times of war, however, due to the large numbers of the wounded, a shortage of expert angiosurgeons, and multiple gunshot wounds, many theoretical tenets lose their academic regularity. The present study is based on the experience of treating 302 patients wounded during the Afghanistan war (1981-1985). Most of the injuries were to the vessels of the extremities. The gunshot wounds were complex. They included extensive destruction of tissue in the damaged segments of the extremities with simultaneous damage of large veins (42.0% of the cases), nerves (45.5%), and bones (47.4%). Multiple-vessel injuries were encountered in 4% of the cases, with combined injuries comprising 17.5%. Most of the wounded (83.7%) were in a state of shock, with 6.4% in a terminal condition. The blood loss amounted to 15% to 65% of the total volume. Ninety percent of the wounded were admitted to hospitals in the first 6 hours. A two-stage method was used to treat 71 of the wounded. The method included temporary bypass of the injured arteries and veins while evacuating the wounded and during surgery. Two hundred ninety-five wounded underwent vessel surgery. Out of the total number of injuries of arteries and veins, vessel sutures were used in 36.9% and 35.9% of the cases, vessel plastics in 41.4% and 7.1% of the cases, and vessel ligation in 21.7% and 60.0% of the cases, respectively. Surgery was completed by fixing the bone fragments externally with the help of special devices using the Ilizarov method. Amputation was performed in 13.9% of the cases. In 7.3% of the cases amputation was performed according to primary indications (no reconstructive surgery attempted on the vessels). In 6.6% of the cases extremities were amputated during the early postoperative period as a result of vessel thrombosis and an increase of tissue ischemia. The mortality rate after vessel surgery was 5.3%. We believe that for patients with gunshot wounds involving vessel injuries, early one-time reconstruction of the destroyed anatomical structures should be performed.     

The correlation between stabbing-related upper extremity wounds and survival of stabbing victims with abdominal and thoracic injuries

BackgroundWhen treating patients with stab injuries of the torso, clinicians often lack timely information about the degree and nature of internal organ damage. An externally observable sign significantly associated with characteristics of torso injuries may therefore be useful for practitioners. One such potential sign is the presence of wounds to the hands, sometimes sustained during victims' attempt to defend themselves during the violent altercation. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the association between presence of upper extremity wounds and the severity of the thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries due to stabbing.MethodsThis study was carried out retrospectively using data on 8714 patients with stabbing-related injuries from 19 trauma centers that participated in the Israeli National Trauma Registry (INTR) between January 1st1997 and December 31st 2013. Patients with wounds of upper extremities in addition to torso injuries (UE group) were compared to other patients with torso injuries (TO group) in terms of demographics, injury characteristics and clinical outcome.ResultsThe compared groups were found to be homogeneous in terms of age and systolic blood pressure; the number of sustained torso injuries was also identical. The UE group comprised a slightly greater percentage of females, however both groups were predominantly male. Patients with upper extremity injuries had a lower proportion of internal organ damage (36% vs. 38.5%) and lower mortality (0.9% vs. 2%). The higher mortality of patients without upper extremity wounds remained significantly different even when adjusted by other epidemiological parameters (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.33–5.08).The number of sustained upper extremity injuries was positively associated with deeper penetration of the torso by the stabbing instrument.ConclusionsPatients with stabbing-related upper extremity wounds had a significant survival advantage over patients without such injuries. However, a greater number of sustained upper extremity wounds may be an external sign of greater severity of thoracic and intraabdominal stabbing injuries.     

Civilian gunshot wounds

A wide variety of injuries are encountered in civilian gunshot wounds with the severity directly related to the amount of kinetic energy imparted on the tissues. A surgeon should be aware of the different ballistic properties of the various firearms and be prepared to treat each patient as an individual. Furthermore, the physician should be attentive to severe complications that may occur even after appropriate treatment has been given. During an 18 month period on the LSU Surgical Service, 431 patients were admitted for gunshot wounds of which 218 had extremity injuries. One hundred seventy of these patients were evaluated and surveyed for type of injury, surgical procedure, and complications relating to the velocity of the involved.     

Management of military vascular injuries.

BACKGROUND: Vascular injuries caused by high-velocity military missiles during war present large and extensive defects of tissues and bones, are often associated with other injuries. In this study we will discuss the surgical strategy and results of military vascular injuries. METHODS: A retrospective review of records of 63 patients treated between January 1995 and December 1999 was undertaken. RESULTS: The mean age of the wounded was 22.3 years (range, 20 to 37 years). The mean time for evacuation from the place of injury to the hospital was 2.3 hours (range, 15 min to 10 hrs). There were 58 (76.3%) arterial and 18 (23.7) venous injuries. Vascular injuries concomitant with 28 (36.9%) bone fractures, six (7.9%) nerve injuries, nine (11.8%) hemopneumothorax and one (1.3%) abdominal injuries. The treatment of the injured arteries were 39 (51.3%) saphenous vein interposition grafting, 13 (17.1%) end to end anastomosis, 12 (15.7%) primary suture, seven (9.2%) synthetic graft replacement. Three patients (3.9%) died because of hypovolemic shock. Five patients underwent amputation (6.6%) and fasciotomy was performed after vascular repair in 11 cases (14.5%). CONCLUSIONS: At the military vascular injuries, the right timing, and also prompt treatment save the life of the patients and give better qualified living to the patient.     

A reassessment of the role of arteriography in penetrating proximity extremity trauma: a prospective study

Penetrating proximity extremity trauma (PPET) was prospectively studied to clarify the role of routine arteriographic evaluation (AG). Over a 24-month period, 135 patients were identified with 152 injuries from PPET. All patients underwent AG and were randomized to either immediate or delayed timing. There were 27 arteriographic abnormalities from these 152 wounds, of which 16 (10.5%) were in major arteries. One acute arteriovenous fistula underwent immediate surgery. The remaining 15 major vessel injuries were nonoperatively observed, including seven cases of segmental arterial narrowing, six intimal flaps, and two small pseudoaneurysms (one of which enlarged and underwent surgical repair after 10 weeks of followup). Nine of the remaining 14 lesions resolved; two improved and three remained clinically unchanged over a mean followup interval of 2.7 months. Shotgun trauma was the mechanism which carried the greatest risk of significant vascular injury. Although "soft" clinical signs were significantly more predictive of vascular injury following PPET than proximity alone (p less than 0.0005), 50% of all injuries to major arteries did not manifest soft signs. No extremity morbidity resulted from delayed AG or from vascular injury management. We conclude from our study population: 1) the natural history of clinically occult arterial injuries was predominantly benign; 2) AG could be safely delayed up to 24 hours; 3) "soft" signs were not clinically useful predictors of vascular injury; and 4) with the exception of shotgun wounds, AG did not appear to be a cost effective screening modality, since detection of a single vascular injury requiring surgery cost $66,420.00.     

Regional circulation in gunshot wounds of the ankle joint and foot

Problems of treatment of battle injuries of the ankle joint and foot are discussed. These injuries are characterized with severe disturbances of regional circulation and microcirculation causing hypoxia and metabolic disorders both in soft tissues and in bones. Digital substraction angiography (DSA) was used in 7 wounded (7.53%) of all patients with battle injuries of the foot and ankle joint. Combined treatment including surgery, drugs, physical and exercise therapy, hyperbaric oxygenation was used in all the patients. Prolonged intraarterial infusion of drugs was carried out in 4 of 7 patients. It is concluded that early evaluation of regional circulation permits to clarify expediency of applied combined treatment. Injury of three arteries is the indication for amputation, but even one functioning artery enables use of combined therapy with intraarterial infusion for extremity salvage.     

Treatment of gunshot wounds of the veins in the first echelon of specialized surgical care

Results of first specialized aid to 26 wounded with injuries of the major veins are analyzed. Rate and nature of injuries of various major veins are regarded. Complete rupture of the vessel and its destruction with dehiscence of different length were seen in more than half of the cases (57.7%). In this case repair of venous vessel patency required various plastic methods. In lateral or incomplete transverse rupture it was possible to put lateral or circular vascular suture. Ligature of injured venous vessel was performed in half of the cases. Based on anatomic features of venous circulation in the extremities, immediate and long-term results of the treatment, 2 groups of injuries were identified: 1st - ligature of the veins did not lead to disorders of venous circulation and function of the extremity in the nearest and long-term period after surgery; 2nd - ligature of the vessel was dangerous due to serious disorders of venous circulation in the nearest period after surgery and might lead to disorders of extremity function and disability. In gunshot wounds of the major veins good results may be achieved in early reconstructive surgeries with individual approach allowing for general condition of the wounded and nature of vessel injury.     

Diagnosis and management of major vascular injuries: a review of 200 operative cases.

In a series of 250 civilian vascular injuries, 85 per cent were due to firearms and 50 per cent involved the torso, both of which represent an increased frequency of occurrence over other reports. There were 40 deaths, 31 of which occurred during operation or in the recovery room and were due to irreversible shock or coagulopathy. Of the nine late deaths, failure of the vascular repair was responsible for only three. In 124 extremity artery injuries, there were 12 leg amputations (10%) with shotgun wounds responsible for nine and popliteal artery injuries involved in seven. In gunshot wounds of the aorta and iliac arteries, there were five suture line disruptions in nine primary repairs and no disruptions in 11 patients repaired by grafts. The evidence indicates that an antibiotic soaked dacron graft is the method of choice to repair gunshot wounds of the aorta and iliac arteries at this time.     

Organization of treating patients with major vessel injuries at stages of evacuation

The experience in treatment of 236 patients with primary injuries of major vessels is presented. A pressure dressing and tense surgical pack of the wound were used in a prehospital treatment. Use of a hemostatic tourniquet (37.3%) led to increased ischemia of injured extremity tissues. Maximal shortening of evacuation time is another important factor. Time to qualified surgical care was 3.2 +/- 0.4 hrs from injury moment, specialized--5.5 +/- 0.7 hrs. Shock was seen in 94.9% wounded. It is necessary to begin anti-shock treatment immediately after injury. Surgery was started only after shock compensation. If shock was caused by continued bleeding, surgery was started at the same time with anti-shock treatment (5.7%). Temporary shunt was used in field conditions in 35.9% wounded. In 11 (19.7%) cases endoprosthesis of original construction (two-lumen tube with microirrigator) was used. If this device was used there were no cases of arterial or venous thrombosis at the stage of specialized treatment. Since using of temporary endoprosthesis leads to delay of evacuation for specialized care it was performed only in cases of gangrene's threat when arrest of bleeding could not be performed with other methods.     

New perspectives on the management of penetrating trauma in proximity to major limb arteries

Current management of penetrating injuries in the proximity of major extremity arteries with no evidence of vascular trauma remains controversial. A total of 318 such injuries in 254 patients were evaluated prospectively to clarify the appropriate timing and role of arteriography, as well as the natural history of these injuries. The arteries at risk were: axillary, 47; brachial, 57; superficial femoral, 176; and popliteal, 38. No deaths occurred, and no morbidity resulted from arteriographic delay of 6 to 24 hours after injury. Of the 48 arteriographic abnormalities detected, 16 involved noncritical branch vessels. There were 32 injuries to major arteries (10.0%), including localized narrowing (n = 13), intimal flap (n = 12), false aneurysm (n = 6), and arteriovenous fistula (n = 1). Shotgun wounds led to a greater arterial injury rate (3/17; 17.6%) than did gunshot wounds (24/247; 9.7%) or stab wounds (5/54; 9.3%). At the surgeon's discretion, three injuries underwent immediate exploration (one negative), whereas the remaining 29 vessel injuries were followed up nonoperatively by repeat arteriography (n = 22) or clinical examination (n = 7), for a mean interval of 2.8 months. Fifteen abnormalities resolved, 10 improved or remained unchanged, and 4 worsened. The four lesions (13.7%) that worsened (two shotgun and two axillary artery injuries) were identified within 3 months of injury and repaired surgically with no morbidity. In conclusion, only 6 operations were required out of 3218 potential injuries (1.8%), suggesting that routine arteriography is not a cost-effective means of evaluating these injuries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

War injuries to the chest.

AIM: Presentation of our experiences in the treatment of war injuries to the chest at the Split University Hospital, Croatia, during the 1991-1995 war in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical and surgical data on 439 (16.3%) patients with war injuries to the chest among 2693 treated battle casualties in general. The medical data from evacuation unit, transportation, emergency department and follow-up were observed and processed by basic statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were more explosive wounds than gunshot and puncture wounds (ratio 251/158/30). Penetrating injuries were found in 348 (79%) patients and nonpenetrating in 91 (21%) patients. There were 401 (91%) men and 38 (9%) women. Thoracotomy was performed in 98 (22.3%) patients, whereas conservative surgical methods (wound treatment, chest-tube drainage, appropriate fluid therapy, antimicrobial and atelectasis prophylaxis) were used in 341 (77.7%) patients. Mean time elapsed between injury and definitive surgical repair was seven hours (range, 1 to 48 hours). Recovery on discharge was recorded in 411 (93.6%) patients, 19 (4.3%) patients were referred to other institution for further treatment, and 9 (2%) severely wounded persons died. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of respiratory insufficiency and haemorrhage shock, and prevention of infection are the basis of management of these injuries. Prompt transportation, appropriate diagnostic methods and an adequate surgical treatment can markedly reduce mortality and complications rate in war injuries to the chest. Most war wound of the lung can be successfully managed by "conservative" surgical treatment. The recovery of lung function was similar in conservatively and operatively treated patients.     

Extremity vascular injuries on the battlefield: tips for surgeons deploying to war

BACKGROUND: Recent events have refocused attention on certain principles regarding the surgical management of casualties on the battlefield. Extremity vascular injuries predominate, representing 50 to 70% of all injuries treated during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and exsanguination from extremity wounds is the leading cause of preventable death on the modern battlefield. Recent advances in military medicine have translated into a greater percentage of wounded soldiers surviving during Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom than in any other previous American conflict. The combat-experienced military surgeon, a fraction of those in uniform until recently, rarely has had the opportunity to convey lessons learned to the newly indoctrinated war surgeon. The purpose of this review is to do exactly that. METHODS: We collectively reviewed the experience and opinions of five U.S. Army surgeons with regard to management of extremity vascular injuries in a combat zone RESULTS: The modern battlefield has a staunch reputation of being unclean, noisy, and lacking of valuable resources. High-kinetic energy injuries such as those resulting from high explosives, munitions, and high-velocity missiles often cause soft-tissue destruction that is not routinely seen in civilian settings. Military-specific considerations in the management of these injuries are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: The management of extremity vascular injuries on the modern battlefield presents many unique and demanding challenges to even the most seasoned of surgeons. Preparation goes a long way in overcoming some of the obstacles to seamless patient care.     

Clinical management of abdominal trauma

Objective： To improve the prognosis of patients with abdominal trauma.
Methods： Between January 1993 and December 2005, 415 patients were enrolled in this research. The patients consisted of 347 males and 68 females with mean age of 36 years （ranging from 3-82 years）. All abdominal traumas consisted of closed traumas （360 cases, 86.7%） and open traumas （55 cases, 13.3%）.Results： A total of 407 cases （98.1%） were fully recov- ered from trauma and the other 8 cases （1.9%） died of mul- tiple injuries. The mean injury severity score （ISS） of all patients was 22 while the mean ISS of the patients who died in hospital was 42. Postoperative complications were seen in 9 patients such as infection of incisional wounds （6 cases）, pancreatic fistula （2 cases） and intestinal fistula （1 case）. All these postoperative complications were cured by the conservative treatment. Conclusion： Careful case history inquisition and physical examination are the basic methods to diagnose abdominal trauma. Focused abdominal ultrasonography is always the initial imaging examination because it is non-invasive and can be performed repeatedly with high accuracy. The doctors should consider the severity of local injuries and the general status of patients during the assessment of abdominal trauma. The principle of treatment is to save lives at first, then to cure the injuries. Unnecessary laparotomy should be avoided to reduce additional surgical trauma.     

Primary surgical treatment of war injuries of major joints of the limbs.

We present the results of primary surgical treatment of war injuries of major joints in 339 patients, wounded in the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the period June 1991-October 1995. The total number of surgically treated joints was 358. The injuries were inflicted by the fragments of explosive devices in 176 (51.9%) patients and by bullets in 125 (36.9%) patients. A single wound was present in 160 (47.2%) and several wounds in 176 (51.9%) patients; 276 (77.1%) patients had injuries of articular bone. The most frequently injured joints were knee joint 167 (46.6%) and elbow joint 72 (20.1%). Associated neurovascular injuries were present in 68 (18.9%) patients. Postoperative bone fragment stabilization was required in 254 (70.9%) joints. Stabilization was by plaster of Paris in 148 (58.2%) and external fixation in 85 (33.4%) patients. Postoperative course was uneventful in 262 (77.3%) while postoperative complications occurred in 77 (22.7%) patients. Amputations were performed in 15 (4.4%) patients. After the primary surgical treatment 254 (74.9%) patients were discharged and directed to rehabilitation or home care and 81 (23.9%) patients required additional reconstructive surgery for bone and soft tissue defects.