Introduction The Role 4 facilities available for those troops serving in Iraq, as well as Civilians contracted by the Ministry of Defence, to support the Iraqi Security Forces, are distributed into four quadrants. The 120 bed Field Hospital at Shaibah Log Base receives patients through A& E, a Primary Health Care facility and direct referrals to the SHO from the Role 1 & 2 facilities within the South East quadrant.

This study was a retrospective evaluation of the orthopaedic attendances via A& E, as well as direct referrals (but did not include PHC attendances) during a three month period; January through March of this year.

Aim The aim of this study was to assess the percentage of orthopaedic attendances, and of these:

- the number admitted

- the (average) length of inpatient stay

- the management of each condition (surgical/conservative/active rehabilitation)

- the outcome ie. Repatriation (via Aeromedical Evacuation) or Return to Unit

Conclusions The deductions drawn from this (short) study are aimed to explain the rationale behind the Repatriation process for prognostic purposes, to introduce the logical reasoning of requiring internal fixation capability in Operational Theatre, to introduce a concept of need for a Rehabilitation Facility/Inpatient Rehabilitation Ward and to discuss the unsuitability and inappropriateness of referring chronic orthopaedic conditions to the Orthopaedic Team within Theatre.