It is unclear whether combat casualties with complex hindfeet fractures would have an improved outcome with reconstruction or amputation. This study aimed to determine the outcomes of British military casualties sustaining calcaneal fractures. In the 12 years of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan there were 116 calcaneal fractures in 98 patients. Seventy-four patients (74/98 76%) were contactable, providing follow up data for 85 fractures (85/116 73%). Median follow up was 5-years (64 months, IQR 52–79). Thirty limbs (30/85 35%) had undergone trans-tibial amputation at time of follow-up: there was no association between open fractures and requirement for amputation (p=0.06). Definitive treatment choice had a significant association with later requirement for amputation (p=0.0479). Fifty-two patients (52/74 70%) had been discharged from the military due to their injuries: there was a significant association between amputation and military discharge (p=0.001). Only 17 patients (17/74 23%) had been able to complete a military fitness test since their injury. The median physical component score of the SF-12 quality of life outcome tool for those undergoing amputation was 51.9 (IQR 48.1–54.3). The median for those retaining their limb was 44.1 (IQR 38.6–53.8). The difference between the two cohorts was not statistically significant (p=0.989).

This is a retrospective study examining the injury pattern, management and short-term outcomes of British Military casualties sustaining hindfoot fractures from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the 12-years of war, 114 patients sustained 134 hindfoot injuries. The calcaneus was fractured in 116 cases (87%): 54 (47%) were managed conservatively, with 30 (26%) undergoing internal fixation.

Eighteen-month follow-up was available for 92 patients (81%) and 114 hindfeet (85%). Nineteen patients (17%) required trans-tibial amputation in this time, with a further 17 (15%) requiring other revision surgery. Deep infection requiring surgical treatment occurred in 13 cases (11%) with S. aureus the commonest infective organism (46%). Deep infection was strongly associated with operative fracture management (p=0.0022). When controlling for multiple variables, the presence of deep infection was significantly associated with a requirement for amputation at 18 months (p=0.001). There was no association between open fractures and requirement for amputation at 18 months (p=0.926), nor was conservative management associated with amputation requirement (p=0.749).

High-energy firearms do not necessarily produce ‘high-energy’ Gun Shot Wounds (GSWs). The aim of this study was to characterise the gun shot injuries sustained by UK forces, and secondly test the hypothesis that the likely severity of GSWs can be predicted by features of the wound. The UK Military trauma registry was searched for cases injured by GSW in the five years between 01 Jan 2009 and 31 Dec 2013: only UK personnel were included. There were 450 cases who met the inclusion criteria. 96 (21%) were fatally injured, with 354 (79%) surviving their injuries. Of the 325 survivors with full records, 236 had GSWs to the limbs and pelvis. ‘Through and through’ wounds were strongly associated with less requirement for debridement (p<0.0001). Fractures were associated with a requirement for a greater number of wound debridements (p=0.00022) GSW with intact, retained bullets and those involving bullet fragmentation, required similar numbers of wound debridements (p=0.53744). This study characterises the GSWs sustained by UK Military personnel over 5-years of warfare. More complex wounds as indicated by the requirement for repeated debridements are associated with injuries where the bullet does not pass straight through the body, or where a bone is fractured.

The aim of this study was to determine medium term functional outcomes in military casualties undergoing limb salvage for severe open tibia fractures, and compare them to trans-tibial amputees. Cases of severe open diaphyseal tibia fractures sustained in combat between 2006 – 2010 were contacted and interviewed. These results were compared to a similar cohort of 18 military patients who sustained a unilateral trans-tibial amputation in the same period. Forty-nine patients with 57 severe open tibia fractures met the inclusion criteria, of which 30 patients (61%) were followed-up. Ten of the 30 patients required revision surgery, 3 of which involved conversion to a circular frame. Twenty-two of the 30 patients (73%) recovered sufficiently to complete a basic military fitness test. The median physical component score of SF-36 in the limb salvage group was 46 (IQR 35–54) which was similar to the trans-tibial amputation cohort (p=0.3057, Mann-Whitney). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients in either the amputation or limb salvage group reporting pain (p=0.1157, Fisher's exact test) or with respect to SF-36 physical pain scores (p=0.5258, Mann-Whitney). This study demonstrates that medium term outcomes for military patients are similar following trans-tibial amputation or limb salvage following combat trauma.

The aim of this study was to characterise severe open tibial shaft fractures sustained by UK military personnel over 10-years of combat and to determine the infection rate and factors that influence it. The UK military Joint Theatre Trauma Registry was searched and X-rays, clinical notes and microbiological records were reviewed for all patients. One hundred GA III open tibia fractures in 89 patients were identified. Three fractures were not followed up for 12-months and were therefore excluded. Twenty-two (23%) of the remaining 97 tibial fractures were complicated by infection requiring surgical treatment, with S. aureus being the causative agent in 13/22 infected fractures (59%). Neither injury severity, mechanism, the use of an external fixator, the need for vascularised tissue transfer or smoking status were significantly associated with infection. Bone loss was significantly associated with subsequent infection (p<0.0001). Most infection in combat open tibia fractures is caused by familiar organisms i.e. S. aureus. The use of external fixators to temporarily stabilise fractures is not associated with an increased risk of subsequent infection. While the overall severity of a casualty's injuries was not associated with infection, the degree of bone loss from the fracture was.

The aim of this study was to establish medium term outcomes in military casualties following severe open tibia fractures.

Cases from a previously published series were contacted and assessed with the SF-36 outcome tool. Their results were then compared to a similar study of military trans-tibial amputees.

Of the original data set of 49 patients, 30 patients were followed up and completed an SF-36 (61%) with a median follow-up of 4 years (49 months, IQR 397–63). Ten of the 30 required revision surgery, 3 of which involved conversion from initial fixation to a circular frame. Twenty-two of the 30 patients recovered sufficiently to complete a military basic fitness test. The median physical component of SF-36 in the tibia fracture group was 46 (IQR 35–54) which was similar to the trans-tibial amputation cohort (p=0.3057, Mann-Whitney). Similarly there was no difference in mental component scores (p=0.1595, Mann-Whitney). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients in the amputation or fracture group reporting pain (p= 0.1157, Fisher's exact test) or with respect to SF-36 physical pain scores (p=0.5258, Mann-Whitney).

We present the patient reported outcomes following combat open tibia fracture and show that they are similar to those achieved after trans-tibial amputation.

The UK Military Trauma Registry was searched for all cases of primary bilateral lower limb amputation sustained over 6-years between March 2004 and March 2010. There were 1694 UK military patients injured or killed during this six-year study period.

Forty-three of these (2.8%) were casualties with bilateral lower limb amputations. All were men injured in Afghanistan by Improvised Explosive Devices. Six casualties were in vehicles when they were injured with the remaining 37 (80%) patrolling on foot. The mean New Injury Severity Score was 48.2 (SD 13.2). Nine patients also lost an upper limb (triple amputation); no patients survived loss of all four limbs. Six patients (14%) sustained an open pelvic fracture. Perineal/genital injury was a feature in 19 (44%) patients, ranging from unilateral orchidectomy to loss of genitalia and permanent requirement for colostomy and urostomy. The mean requirement for blood products was 66 units (SD=41.7). The minimum transfusion requirement was 8 units and the greatest was a patient requiring a total of 193 units of blood products.

Our findings detail the severe nature of these injuries together with the massive surgical and resuscitative efforts required to firstly keep patients alive and secondly reconstruct and prepare them for rehabilitation.

This study aimed to characterise severe open femoral fractures sustained by military personnel and to describe their orthopaedic management and preliminary outcomes. The UK Military Trauma Registry was searched for open femoral fractures sustained between 2006–2010. Clinical records and radiographs were reviewed and data gathered on demographics, injury, management and preliminary outcomes.

Thirty-four patients with 34 open femoral fractures were eligible for inclusion. The mean NISS was 22.4 (SD 12.28). Nineteen fractures were caused by gunshot wounds (56%), with the remainder due to blasts. Three patients (9%) suffered Grade 4 segmental bone loss. Intramedullary nailing was used in 22 patients (69%). A minimum of 12 month follow up was available for 33 patients (97%). Twenty-three patients (70%) had achieved fracture union within the first twelve months. One patient suffered deep infection requiring surgical debridement. Ten patients (30%) underwent a revision procedure due to femoral shortening or malunion: two required a transfemoral amputation. There was a significant association between bone loss and a poor outcome (revision surgery) at 12 months (p=0.00016). Infection rates were significantly lower in open femoral fractures when compared to similar published work on open tibial fractures (p=0.0257).

We present the British Military's experience of treating devastating lower limb injuries in personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. We evaluate current surgical practice of attempting to maximise stump length through sequential debridement, rather that early amputation outside the zone of injury. Following an observation that the frequency of sequential amputation had appeared to increase during spring 2009, it was speculated that there may be factors which would predict which patients would require a more aggressive early amputation.

The Joint Theatre Trauma Registry was interrogated for all cases of amputation between Apr 06 and Sep 09. The following data were collected: demographics, mechanism of injury, requirement for massive transfusion, use of combat applied tourniquet, number of stump debridements and echelon of care performed at, all microbiology and final level of amputation. A regression analysis was performed to establish correlation between each data-set and final level of amputation. 95 cases were identified; 21 were either digits or upper limbs and excluded. Clinical notes of the remaining 74 cases were requested, of which 48 were available representing a total of 66 lower limb stumps.

No significant relationships were established between sequential amputation and any of the variables we examined. It was not possible to identify factors with predictive value with respect to which patients would benefit from a more aggressive early amputation approach. These results support current practice by demonstrating that attempts to balance maximal stump length with sufficient debridement to eradicate infected tissue, does not expose patients to unnecessary operative “hits”.

Background: The timing of surgery for closed ankle fracture is controversial. Conventional teaching recommends either immediate surgery or a delay of 5–7 days in order to minimise soft tissue complications. However, there have been no large studies to produce clear guidelines and the literature is conflicting. Some authors suggest that delayed surgery results in increased risk of wound complications, less satisfactory rate of anatomical reduction, increased hospital stay and health service cost.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether surgery can be safely performed in an intermediate time frame with respect to soft tissues complications.

Method: We performed retrospective analysis of case notes and plain radiographs of 85 patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation for closed ankle fractures at our unit in 2004. Data was analysed using the StatView statistical analysis program. Continuous variables were assessed for association with wound complication by means of an unpaired t-test. Nominal variables were assessed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results: The overall rate of infection in our population of 85 patients was 9.4%. This comprised 7 superficial wound infections and one deep infection. Patients were classified into early (within 1 day), intermediate (between 2–6 days) and delayed (after 6 days) groups according to the time delay prior to surgery. Only 1 patient in the intermediate surgery group developed infection compared to 6 in the delayed group and this was statistically significant (p = 0.046).

Conclusion: We suggest that with experience, meticulous soft tissue handling and good operative technique, delaying surgery until swelling has subsided is unnecessary in the majority of patients and is associated with a higher risk of wound complication.

Forward surgical teams have been employed in many recent conflicts. However, as in the Gulf War, they have not usually been sited further forward than the Field Ambulance level. During recent operations in Northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan, two Special Forces Field Surgical Teams were forward deployed to isolated and remote desert areas to provide a completely independent surgical facility, backed up only by a small guard force.

Advanced resuscitation and damage control surgery including major vessel ligation, wound debridement and skeletal stabilization was undertaken. These operations all took place within a two resuscitation bay, two table surgical complex set up within a C-130 Hercules aircraft. This allowed for an extremely mobile response to any perceived threats approaching the complex. A small laboratory with a ruggedised ‘Thermopol’ blood refrigeration unit was also carried. This allowed for the forward provision of 50 units of mixed blood type. This facility was found to be life saving.

Following surgical stabilization, these patients were then casevaced by a separate pre-positioned, aeromed pre-fitted C-130 aircraft to a Deployed Operating Base Hospital in Oman. Here, further stabilization surgery, skeletal fixation and wound care was carried out. Twenty-four hours later, all casualties were in a teaching hospital in the UK where final definitive surgery took place.

The management and care of these patients at all of the above stages is presented and discussed with some appropriate lessons for future operations

Forward surgical teams have been employed in many recent conflicts. However, as in the Gulf War, they have not usually been sited further forward than the Field Ambulance level. During recent operations in Northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan, two Special Forces Field Surgical Teams were forward deployed to isolated and remote desert areas to provide a completely independent surgical facility, backed up only by a small guard force.

Advanced resuscitation and damage control surgery including major vessel ligation, wound debridement and skeletal stabilisation was undertaken. These operations all took place within a two resuscitation bay, two table surgical complex set up within a C-130 Hercules aircraft. This allowed for an extremely mobile response to any perceived threats approaching the complex. A small laboratory with a ruggedised ‘Thermopol’ blood refrigeration unit was also carried. This allowed for the forward provision of 50 units of mixed blood type. This facility was found to be life saving.

Following surgical stabilisation, these patients were then casevaced by a separate pre-positioned, aeromed pre-fitted C-130 aircraft to a Deployed Operating Base Hospital in Oman. Here, further stabilisation surgery, skeletal fixation and wound care was carried out. Twenty-four hours later, all casualties were in a teaching hospital in the UK where final definitive surgery took place.

The management and care of these patients at all of the above stages is presented and discussed with some appropriate lessons for future operations.