Evolution of orthopaedic reconstructive care

The patterns and severity of injury sustained by service members have continuously evolved over the past 10 years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 2010 surge of combat troops into Afghanistan, combined with a transition to counterinsurgency tactics with an emphasis on dismounted operations, re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Vol. 20 Suppl 1; p. S74
Main Authors Fleming, Mark E, Watson, J Tracy, Gaines, Robert J, O'Toole, Robert V
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.2012
Subjects
Afghan Campaign 2001
Amputation
Blast Injuries - surgery
Bone Regeneration
Extremities - injuries
Extremities - surgery
Fractures, Bone - surgery
Free Tissue Flaps
Humans
Iraq War, 2003-2011
Limb Salvage
Military Personnel
Multiple Trauma - surgery
Orthopedic Procedures - trends
Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - trends
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Summary:The patterns and severity of injury sustained by service members have continuously evolved over the past 10 years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 2010 surge of combat troops into Afghanistan, combined with a transition to counterinsurgency tactics with an emphasis on dismounted operations, resulted in increased exposure of US service members to improvised explosive devices and a new pattern of injury termed dismounted complex blast injury. This constellation of injuries typically includes multiple extremity injuries, high bilateral transfemoral amputations, amputated or mangled upper extremities, open pelvis fractures, and injury to the perineal and/or genital regions. These polytraumatized patients frequently present with head, abdominal, and genitourinary injuries, as well. Traditional methods of reconstruction must be optimized because tissue availability may be limited.
ISSN:1067-151X
1940-5480
DOI:10.5435/JAAOS-20-08-S74