The defining weapon of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan has been the Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs). When detonated under a vehicle, they result in significant axial loading to the lower limbs, resulting in devastating injuries. Due to the absence of clinical
The mechanism of traumatic amputation (TA) from explosive
Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks on vehicles have been a significant feature of recent conflicts. The Dynamic Response Index (DRI), developed for predicting spinal injury in aircraft ejection, has been adopted for testing vehicles in underbelly
Introduction. This study reviews the orthopaedic care of the thirteen patients who were admitted and treated at Royal Manchester Children's' Hospital following the Manchester Arena Bomb
The open
A retrospective analysis of all paediatric patients admitted to Camp Bastion Role 3 between June 2006 and March 2013 was conducted from the UK trauma database. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, anatomical distribution of injury and treatment are described. Two hundred and ninety eight children were admitted, 225 males with a median age of 9 years old. The highest number of cases (78) was recorded in 2011. Overall there were 55 fatalities (85.6% male). Most injuries were by IED (68% of cases) with 74% requiring operative intervention. Seventy-four percent of casualties had three or more anatomical regional injuries. Whilst the most commonly injured region was the lower limb (78%), head injuries were seen in 41%, abdominal injuries in 48% and thorax injuries in 44%. Debridement (including amputations) (59.4%) and laparotomy (30.6%) were the commonest operations performed. Sixty percent of cases were in theatre within one hour of arrival. Amongst survivors the mean ISS score was 17 and amongst fatalities 43; NISS 22 and 51; RTS 5.45 and 2.91. Paediatric
Recent advances in combat casualty care have enabled survival following battlefield injuries that would have been lethal in past conflicts. While some injuries remain beyond our current capability to treat, they have the potential to be future ‘unexpected’ survivors. The greatest threat to deployed coalition troops currently and for the foreseeable future is the improvised explosive device (IED) Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct an analysis of causes of death and injury patterns in recent explosive
Heterotopic ossification (HO) is perhaps the
single most significant obstacle to independence, functional mobility, and
return to duty for combat-injured veterans of Operation Enduring
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Recent research into the cause(s)
of HO has been driven by a markedly higher prevalence seen in these
wounded warriors than encountered in previous wars or following
civilian trauma. To that end, research in both civilian and military
laboratories continues to shed light onto the complex mechanisms
behind HO formation, including systemic and wound specific factors,
cell lineage, and neurogenic inflammation. Of particular interest,
non-invasive
A common injury pattern in current military experience is traumatic lower limb amputation from improvised explosive devices. This injury can coexist with pelvic girdle fractures. Of 67 consecutive patients with traumatic lower limb amputations treated in Camp Bastion Hospital Afghanistan, 16 (24%) had an associated pelvic fracture (10 APC/vertical shear and 6 acetabular or pubic rami fractures). Traumatic single amputees (n=28) had a 14% incidence of associated pelvic fracture with traumatic double amputees (n=39) increasing this association to 31%. However if the double amputations were above knee the incidence of associated open book fractures was 26% (6/23) with 39% (9/23) sustaining some form of pelvic bony injury. The majority of patients (95%) had a pelvic X-ray as part of the primary survey. Of these 51% (n=34) had a Sam sling(r) in situ but only fifteen were deemed appropriately applied. Given the high risk of pelvic fractures in patients with traumatic bilateral lower limb amputations, particularly those involving opening of the pelvic ring, it is imperative that the earliest and proper application of a pelvic binder be initiated.
Recent evidence suggests that both the accepted mechanism of blast-mediated traumatic amputation (TA) (shockwave then
The last decade has seen a marked increase in surgical rib fracture fixation (SRF). The evidence to support this comes largely from retrospective cohorts, and adjusting for the effect of other injuries sustained at the same time is challenging. This study aims to assess the impact of SRF after blunt chest trauma using national prospective registry data, while controlling for other comorbidities and injuries. A ten-year extract from the Trauma Audit and Research Network formed the study sample. Patients who underwent SRF were compared with those who received supportive care alone. The analysis was performed first for the entire eligible cohort, and then for patients with a serious (thoracic Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) ≥ 3) or minor (thoracic AIS < 3) chest injury without significant polytrauma. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of mortality. Kaplan-Meier estimators and multivariable Cox regression were performed to adjust for the effects of concomitant injuries and other comorbidities. Outcomes assessed were 30-day mortality, length of stay (LoS), and need for tracheostomy.Aims
Methods
Aim. To review current military orthopaedic experience and establish if there exists a consensus of opinion in how and if to perform fasciotomy of the foot and to guide other clinicians. Method. A questionnaire was sent to 10 DMS orthopaedic consultants to identify their experience with foot compartment syndrome and performing fasciotomies. Results. 50% had performed a foot fasciotomy (average 2, range 1-6) over an average of 6.2 years as consultant and an average of 7.3 months deployed. Most commonly two dorsal and a medial incision were used to decompress the foot, while one advocated not decompressing and accepting the contractures, a view consistent with some civilian literature. Discussion. The debate surrounding decompression stems from the rarity of the condition, the lack of consensus regarding the anatomy of the foot compartments and whether to accept the inevitable contractures by not decompressing. Given that foot compartment syndrome may not be seen during civilian training, then there is a requirement for guidance for the deploying military surgeon. Conclusion. DMS clinicians need to remain vigilant to compartment syndrome of the foot and especially in cases of crush or
This study estimated trends in incidence of open fractures and the adherence to clinical standards for open fracture care in England. Longitudinal data collected by the Trauma Audit and Research Network were used to identify 38,347 patients with open fractures, and a subgroup of 12,170 with severe open fractures of the tibia, between 2008 and 2019 in England. Incidence rates per 100,000 person-years and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Clinical care was compared with the British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma and National Major Trauma Centre audit standards.Aims
Methods
Hand injuries are common in military personnel deployed on Operations. We present an analysis of 6 years of isolated hand injuries from Afghanistan or Iraq. The AEROMED database was interrogated for all casualties with isolated hand injuries requiring repatriation between April 2003 and 2009. We excluded cases not returned to Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM). Of the 414 identified in the study period, 207 were not transferred to RCDM, 12 were incorrectly coded and 41 notes were unavailable. The remaining 154 notes were reviewed. 69% were from Iraq; only 14 % were battle injuries. 35% were crush injuries, 20% falls, 17% lacerations, 6% sport, 5% gun-shot wounds and 4%
Complex fractures of the femur and tibia with associated severe soft tissue injury are often devastating for the individual. The aim of this study was to describe the two-year patient-reported outcomes of patients in a civilian population who sustained a complex fracture of the femur or tibia with a Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS) of ≥ 7, whereby the score ranges from 2 (lowest severity) to 11 (highest severity). Patients aged ≥ 16 years with a fractured femur or tibia and a MESS of ≥ 7 were extracted from the Victorian Orthopaedic Trauma Outcomes Registry (January 2007 to December 2018). Cases were grouped into surgical amputation or limb salvage. Descriptive analysis were used to examine return to work rates, three-level EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L), and Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E) outcomes at 12 and 24 months post-injury.Aims
Methods
This is a retrospective study of survivors of
recent conflicts with an open fracture of the femur. We analysed
the records of 48 patients (48 fractures) and assessed the outcome.
The median follow up for 47 patients (98%) was 37 months (interquartile
range 19 to 53); 31 (66%) achieved union; 16 (34%) had a revision
procedure, two of which were transfemoral amputation (4%). The New Injury Severity Score, the method of fixation, infection
and the requirement for soft-tissue cover were not associated with
a poor outcome. The degree of bone loss was strongly associated
with a poor outcome (p = 0.00204). A total of four patients developed
an infection; two with This study shows that, compared with historical experience, outcomes
after open fractures of the femur sustained on the battlefield are
good, with no mortality and low rates of infection and late amputation.
The degree of bone loss is closely associated with a poor outcome. Cite this article:
The aim of this study was to report the pattern
of severe open diaphyseal tibial fractures sustained by military personnel,
and their orthopaedic–plastic surgical management. Cite this article:
This is a case series of prospectively gathered
data characterising the injuries, surgical treatment and outcomes
of consecutive British service personnel who underwent a unilateral
lower limb amputation following combat injury. Patients with primary,
unilateral loss of the lower limb sustained between March 2004 and
March 2010 were identified from the United Kingdom Military Trauma
Registry. Patients were asked to complete a Short-Form (SF)-36 questionnaire.
A total of 48 patients were identified: 21 had a trans-tibial amputation,
nine had a knee disarticulation and 18 had an amputation at the
trans-femoral level. The median New Injury Severity Score was 24 (mean
27.4 (9 to 75)) and the median number of procedures per residual
limb was 4 (mean 5 (2 to 11)). Minimum two-year SF-36 scores were
completed by 39 patients (81%) at a mean follow-up of 40 months
(25 to 75). The physical component of the SF-36 varied significantly
between different levels of amputation (p = 0.01). Mental component
scores did not vary between amputation levels (p = 0.114). Pain
(p = 0.332), use of prosthesis (p = 0.503), rate of re-admission
(p = 0.228) and mobility (p = 0.087) did not vary between amputation
levels. These findings illustrate the significant impact of these injuries
and the considerable surgical burden associated with their treatment.
Quality of life is improved with a longer residual limb, and these
results support surgical attempts to maximise residual limb length. Cite this article:
We describe 261 peripheral nerve injuries sustained
in war by 100 consecutive service men and women injured in Iraq
and Afghanistan. Their mean age was 26.5 years (18.1 to 42.6), the
median interval between injury and first review was 4.2 months (mean
8.4 months (0.36 to 48.49)) and median follow-up was 28.4 months
(mean 20.5 months (1.3 to 64.2)). The nerve lesions were predominantly
focal prolonged conduction block/neurapraxia in 116 (45%), axonotmesis
in 92 (35%) and neurotmesis in 53 (20%) and were evenly distributed
between the upper and the lower limbs. Explosions accounted for
164 (63%): 213 (82%) nerve injuries were associated with open wounds.
Two or more main nerves were injured in 70 patients. The ulnar,
common peroneal and tibial nerves were most commonly injured. In
69 patients there was a vascular injury, fracture, or both at the
level of the nerve lesion. Major tissue loss was present in 50 patients:
amputation of at least one limb was needed in 18. A total of 36 patients
continued in severe neuropathic pain. This paper outlines the methods used in the assessment of these
injuries and provides information about the depth and distribution
of the nerve lesions, their associated injuries and neuropathic
pain syndromes.
The types of explosive devices used in warfare
and the pattern of war wounds have changed in recent years. There has,
for instance, been a considerable increase in high amputation of
the lower limb and unsalvageable leg injuries combined with pelvic
trauma. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan prompted the Department
of Military Surgery and Trauma in the United Kingdom to establish
working groups to promote the development of best practice and act
as a focus for research. In this review, we present lessons learnt in the initial care
of military personnel sustaining major orthopaedic trauma in the
Middle East.