War-related traumatic brain injuries during the Syrian armed conflict in Damascus 2014-2017: a cohort study and a literature review.

BACKGROUND: The decade-long Syrian armed conflict killed or injured more than 11% of the Syrian population. Head and neck injuries are the most frequent cause of war-related trauma, about half of which are brain injuries. Reports about Syrian brain trauma victims were published from neighboring countries; However, none are available from Syrian hospitals. This study aims to report war-related traumatic brain injuries from the Syrian capital. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study between 2014 and 2017 at Damascus Hospital, the largest public hospital in Damascus, Syria. Target patients were the victims of combat-related traumatic brain injuries who arrived alive and were admitted to the neurosurgery department or to another department but followed by the neurosurgery team. The collected data included the mechanism, type, and site of injury based on imaging findings; types of invasive interventions; intensive-care unit (ICU) admissions; as well as neurological status at admission and discharge including several severity scales. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 195 patients; Ninety-six of them were male young adults, in addition to 40 females and 61 children. Injuries were caused by shrapnel in 127 (65%) cases, and by gunshots in the rest, and most of them (91%) were penetrating. Sixty-eight patients (35%) were admitted to the ICU, and 56 (29%) underwent surgery. Neurological impairment was reported in 49 patients (25%) at discharge, and the mortality rate during hospitalization was 33%. Mortality and neurological impairment associated significantly with higher values on clinical and imaging severity scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study captured the full spectrum of war-related brain injuries of civilians and armed personnel in Syria without the delay required to transport patients to neighboring countries. Although the clinical presentation of injuries at admission was not as severe as that in previous reports, the inadequate resources (i.e., ventilators and operation rooms) and the lack of previous experience with similar injuries might have resulted in the higher mortality rate. Clinical and imaging severity scales can provide a handy tool in identifying cases with low probability of survival especially with the shortage of personal and physical resources.

Body image and psychosocial well-being among UK military personnel and veterans who sustained appearance-altering conflict injuries.

A modest but significant number of military personnel sustained injuries during deployments resulting in an altered-appearance (e.g., limb loss and/or scarring). Civilian research indicates that appearance-altering injuries can affect psychosocial wellbeing, yet little is known about the impact of such injuries among injured personnel. This study aimed to understand the psychosocial impact of appearance-altering injuries and possible support needs among UK military personnel and veterans. Semi-structured interviews with 23 military participants who sustained appearance-altering injuries during deployments or training since 1969 were conducted. The interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, identifying six master themes. These themes indicate that in the context of broader recovery experiences, military personnel and veterans experience a variety of psychosocial difficulties related to their changed appearance. While some of these are consistent with evidence from civilians, military-related nuances in the challenges, protective experiences, coping approaches, and preferences for support are evident. Personnel and veterans with appearance-altering injuries may require specific support for adjusting to their changed appearance and related difficulties. However, barriers to acknowledging appearance concerns were identified. Implications for support provision and future research are discussed.

Military service and related risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unknown, but occupations have been explored as a potential proxy measure of risk. There is a substantial body of literature connecting military service to ALS. We aimed to summarize and assess the quality of this evidence. METHODS: Systematic review of the literature, including observational studies which explored one of the following exposures: general military service (army, air force, marines, or navy); or specific exposures associated with military service measured among military personnel. The outcome of interest was ALS incidence, which could include onset, diagnosis, or death from ALS. RESULTS: A total of 2642 articles were screened. Following exclusion, 19 articles remained for inclusion in the systematic review, including 1 meta-analysis and 18 original observational studies. Most studies were of moderate quality. In general, the relationship between military service was suggestive of an increased risk, particularly among Gulf War and WWII veterans. Exposure to pesticides (including Agent Orange) certain chemicals (exhaust, burning agents), heavy metals, and head trauma appeared to increase the risk of ALS among military personnel. CONCLUSIONS: There is a possible association between military service and the subsequent development of ALS; however, the evidence was limited. Studies were generally hindered by small sample sizes and inadequate follow-up time. Future studies should endeavor to objectively measure specific exposures, or combinations thereof, associated with military service, as this will be of vital importance in implementing preventative strategies into military organizations.

POSTERIOR SEGMENT INJURIES IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM: 2001 to 2011.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To characterize the nature of posterior segment ocular injuries in combat trauma. METHODS: Eyes in the Walter Reed Ocular Trauma Database were evaluated for the presence of posterior segment injury. Final visual outcomes in open-globe versus closed-globe injuries and by zone of injury and the types of posterior segment injuries in open-globe versus closed-globe injuries were assessed. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-two of 890 eyes (50.8%) had at least one posterior segment injury. The mechanism of injury was most commonly an improvised explosive device in 280 (62.0%) eyes. Sixty-one patients (13.5%) had a Zone I injury, 50 (11.1%) a Zone II injury, and 341 (75.4%) a Zone III injury. Patients with Zone I injuries were more likely to have a final visual acuity of 20/200 or better compared with patients with either a Zone II (P < 0.001) or Zone III injury (P = 0.007). Eyes with a closed-globe injury were more likely to have a final visual acuity of 20/200 or better compared with those with an open-globe injury (P < 0.001). Furthermore, closed-globe injury compared with open-globe injury had a lower risk of vitreous hemorrhage (odds ratio 0.32, P < 0.001), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (odds ratio 0.14, P < 0.001), and retinal detachment (odds ratio 0.18, P < 0.001) but a higher risk of chorioretinal rupture (odds ratio 2.82, P < 0.001) and macular hole (odds ratio 3.46, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Patients with combat ophthalmic trauma had similar posterior segment injury patterns to civilian trauma in open-globe versus closed-globe injuries. Zone II and III injuries were associated with a worse visual prognosis.

Missile War Injuries of the Craniofacial Region.

Many factors govern the nature, severity, and outcome of missile war injuries and associated soft tissue damages. Managements of primary phase and trauma care have improved significantly. Many of these injured victims survived and require immediate care for primary phase management. Secondary phase was achieved by reconstruction of soft tissue by local, regional flaps, and bony defect by bone grafting.There is no consensus on timing of treatment of bone and soft tissue of missile war injuries.Currently, in Iraq, anti-government's protestors' movement for the last 3 months mainly unemployed young people demanding for human rights has resettled in 22,000 people being injured. This includes more than 600 young men who were assassinated by unknown killers through confrontation with security and police men using tear gas canisters and sound bombs. The demonstrators used mini cars (Tuck Tuck) for attacking policemen and security people and used them for transferring injured demonstrators as ambulance to a special tent in the Tahrir Square for receiving first aid.

Shrapnel Injuries on Regions of Head and Neck in Syrian War.

BACKGROUND: Perforating and cutting injuries to the head and neck due to shrapnels are largely life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. In the present article, the surgical conditions in the war-related head and neck injuries were presented in terms of war surgery with mortality rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a retrospective clinical case-control study including primarily 179 head and neck injuries that occurred due to shrapnels in the Syrian Civil War. The records of 2015-2019 years were analyzed according to demographics, injury types, injury location, plastic surgery approaches and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Injury mechanism of all wounds was penetrating type, which was commonly secondary to an explosive device, collapse due to shrapnels of the explosion, gunshot or grenade. While 43(24%) of the wounded were soldiers, 136 (76%) were civilians. Considering the reason for the shrapnel injury, 83% was due to the explosion and 17% was due to gunshot injuries. The 32% showed facial fractures. As the most common fractures of the face were around the maxilla-zygoma (28.4%), orbita (22%), and teeths (18.5%). Considering neck injury zones, region-2 was mostly affected by the region. The third zone had the lowest rate of injury with 10%. In 89 (49%) patients, the authors preferred primary, while 15 gained secondary reconstruction (8%). The authors used Limberg flap for 24 (32%) patients, rotation flap for 39 (52%) patients, and bilobe flap for 12 (16%) patients. CONCLUSION: The most important cause of mortality was not the destruction, tissue loss caused by shrapnel injury, or experience of the surgeon, but the severe states of sepsis or multiple different trauma when brought for treatment from long range from the war zone.

War Atrocities and Growing Up: Risks We Have to Think About.

The establishment of the United Nations after World War II raised hopes of a new era of peace. This was over-optimistic. Between 1945 and 1992, there were 149 major wars, killing more than 23 million people. Recent developments in warfare have significantly heightened the dangers for children. During the last decade child war victims have included: 2 million killed; 4-5 million disabled; 12 million left homeless; more than 1 million orphaned or separated from their parents; some 10 million psychologically traumatized. Researches indicate that children do develop PTSD after experiencing very stressful, life-threatening events such as happen in war. Wars of 21st century are often guerrilla-type civil wars in which women and children are not only the main victims, but are deliberately targeted. Thousands are displaced both internally and across borders. Wars at the end of nineties of 20th century in the region of ex Yugoslavian countries brought all the cruelty of war vivid again on European ground. Population were exposed to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. During the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-1995 there were about 100 000 people killed (20% woman and 3.5% children) and about 18 000 children were orphaned because of war. Children are not capable to regulate their emotions and hyper-arousal on their own. It depends of the way how their parents (caretaker) regulate her/his own emotions. During the war weak child's ego is paralyzed with intensive stimuli and floating anxiety, it does not manage to make constructive solution for traumatic experiences in such a short time. Mothers with small children are especially vulnerable group during the war time: they are supposed to take care about children and feel happiness, what is almost impossible Severe war experiences could cause depressive symptoms in mothers, what reduce their emotional disposability and could lead in different form of the child's neglecting. PTSD symptoms were lasting longer in children if their mothers have had functioning problems. Traumatization of mothers is connected with different behavior problems in their children. Wars are continuing all over the world and there is a continuity of researches about their consequences on children. Any programs that intend to mitigate the psychological effects of such trauma need to adopt a public health approach aimed at reaching many thousands.

An analysis of casualties presenting to military emergency departments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: During the past 17 years of conflict the deployed US military health care system has found new and innovative ways to reduce combat mortality down to the lowest case fatality rate in US history. There is currently a data dearth of emergency department (ED) care delivered in this setting. We seek to describe ED interventions in this setting. METHODS: We used a series of ED procedure codes to identify subjects within the Department of Defense Trauma Registry from January 2007 to August 2016. RESULTS: During this time, 28,222 met inclusion criteria. The median age of causalities in this dataset was 25 years and most (96.9%) were male, US military (41.3%), and part of Operation Enduring Freedom (66.9%). The majority survived to hospital discharge (95.5%). Most subjects sustained injuries by explosives (55.3%) and gunshot wound (GSW). The majority of subjects had an injury severity score that was considered minor (74.1%), while the preponderance of critically injured casualties sustained injuries by explosive (0.7%). Based on AIS, the most frequently seriously injured body region was the extremities (23.9%). The bulk of administered blood products were packed red blood cells (PRBC, 26.4%). Endotracheal intubation was the most commonly performed critical procedure (11.9%). X-ray (79.9%) was the most frequently performed imaging study. CONCLUSIONS: US military personnel comprised the largest proportion of combat casualties and most were injured by explosive. Within this dataset, ED providers most frequently performed endotracheal intubation, administered blood products, and obtained diagnostic imaging studies.

Injury and death during the ISIS occupation of Mosul and its liberation: Results from a 40-cluster household survey.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of mortality and injury in conflict situations presents many challenges compared with stable situations. However, providing information is important to assess the impact of conflict on populations and to estimate humanitarian needs, both in the immediate and longer term. Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, was overrun by fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on June 4, 2014. In this study, we conducted household surveys to measure reported deaths, injuries, and kidnappings in Mosul, Iraq, both during the occupation of the city by fighters of ISIS and the months of Iraqi military action known as the liberation. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Mosul was overrun by ISIS forces on June 4, 2014, and was under exclusive ISIS control for 29 months. The military offensive by Iraqi forces, supported by coalition artillery and airstrikes, began on October 17, 2016, in east Mosul and concluded in west Mosul with the defeat of ISIS on June 29, 2017. We conducted a 40-cluster population-based survey as soon as the security forces permitted access for the survey team. The objective of the survey was to measure reported deaths, injuries, and kidnappings in Mosul households during 29 months of ISIS-exclusive control (June 2014-October 2016) and the nine months of Iraqi military action known as the liberation (October 2016-June 2017). In east Mosul, the survey was conducted from March 23 to March 31, 2017, and in west Mosul from July 18 to July 31, 2017. Sampling was based on pre-ISIS population distribution, with revisions made following the extensive destruction in west Mosul. The 1,202 sampled households included 7,559 persons: 4,867 in east Mosul and 2,692 in west Mosul. No households declined to participate. During the time from June 4, 2014, to the time of the survey, there were 628 deaths reported from the sampled households, of which 505 were due to intentional violence, a mortality rate of 2.09 deaths per 1,000 person-months. Over the entire time period, the group with the highest mortality rates from intentional violence was adults aged 20 to 39: 1.69 deaths per 1,000 person-months among women and 3.55 among men. In the 29 months of ISIS-exclusive control, mortality rates among all males were 0.71 reported deaths per 1,000 person-months and for all females were 0.50 deaths per 1,000 person-months. During the nine months of the military liberation, the mortality rates jumped to 13.36 deaths per 1,000 person-months for males and 8.33 for females. The increase was particularly dramatic in west Mosul. The leading cause of reported deaths from intentional violence was airstrikes-accounting for 201 civilian deaths-followed by 172 deaths from explosions. Reported deaths from airstrikes were most common in west Mosul, while reported deaths from explosions were similar on both sides of Mosul. Gunshots accounted for 86 cases, predominantly in west Mosul where ISIS snipers were particularly active. There were 35 persons who were reported to have been kidnapped, almost entirely prior to the military offensive. By the time of the survey, 20 had been released, 8 were dead, and 7 still missing, according to household reports. Almost all of the 223 injuries reported were due to intentional violence. Limitations to population-based surveys include a probable large survivor bias, the reliance on preconflict population distribution figures for sampling, and potential recall bias among respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Death and injuries during the military offensive to liberate Mosul considerably exceeded those during ISIS occupation. Airstrikes were the major reported cause of deaths, with the majority occurring in west Mosul. The extensive use of airstrikes and heavy artillery risks an extensive loss of life in densely populated urban areas. The high probability of survivor bias in this survey suggests that the actual number of injuries, kidnappings, and deaths in the neighborhoods sampled is likely to be higher than we report here.

Intraocular Foreign Body Trauma in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom: 2001 to 2011.

PURPOSE: We update the incidence of intraocular foreign bodies (IOFB) in soldiers admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center from 2001 to 2011 after sustaining combat injuries in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. DESIGN: This consecutive retrospective case series included 890 eyes of 652 patients. METHODS: Data were collected in the Walter Reed Ocular Trauma Database. Inclusion criteria were any American soldier or Department of Defense civilian with an IOFB injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. Closed globe injuries with orbital foreign bodies, injury outside of a combat zone, or non-Department of Defense civilian trauma were the exclusion criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were final visual outcome and the number, size, and location of IOFBs. Secondary outcome measures included surgical procedures, use of eye protection, associated complications, source of injury and Ocular Trauma Score. RESULTS: There were 890 eye injuries in 652 patients evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center between 2001 and 2011. IOFBs were found in 166 eyes of 149 patients (18.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 16.2%-21.3%). Most patients had a single IOFB (80.7%). An IOFB was positively associated with Ocular Trauma Score grade 1 or 2 (0-65) injuries (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% CI, 1.07-2.38; P = 0.01). There were 130 eyes (78.33%) that had recorded time from initial visual acuity to final visual acuity and it ranged from 8 to 2421 days (mean, 433.24 days). Thirty-eight (25.16%; 95% CI, 18.89%-32.67%) eyes had no change in visual acuity, 98 (64.90%; 95% CI, 57.00%-72.07%) had improved visual acuity, and 15 (9.93%; 95% CI, 6.01%-15.84%) had decreased visual acuity. IOFB was not found to predict final visual acuity of <20/200 in multivariate analysis when other injury features were known (P = 0.1). Pars plana vitrectomy was completed on 124 eyes (74.70%). Removal of IOFB was performed in 118 eyes (71.08%; average of 31.67 days after initial injury) with a delayed procedure occurring after primary closure and antibiotics owing to a lack of surgical capacity in Iraq and Afghanistan. Retinal detachment occurred in 48 eyes (28.92%) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy in 44 eyes (26.5%). CONCLUSIONS: IOFBs occur frequently in combat ocular trauma and are significantly associated with more severe injuries. However, IOFBs were not found to be a significant risk factor for visual acuity of <20/200.

Impact of war on child health in northern Syria: the experience of Médecins Sans Frontières.

Few data are available to evaluate the impact of Syrian war on civilian population; to describe this impact on child health, this article uses data from Médecins Sans Frontières-Operational Centre Amsterdam's activities in Tal-Abyad and Kobane cities, northern Syria (2013-2016). Data were obtained from routine medical datasets and narrative reports, for out-patient clinics, immunisation, nutritional monitoring and assessments, and in-patient care, and were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Infections were the largest contributor to morbidity. The proportion of < 5 year out-patient consultations of infectious diseases that are listed for outbreak monitoring in emergencies was 15% in 2013, 51% in 2014, 75% in 2015 and 70% in 2016. Thalassemia was recorded in 0.5% of 2014 < 5 year out-patient consultations and 3.4% of 2013-2014 < 18-year in-patient admissions. Measles immunisation activities and routine Extended Programme for Immunisation were re-activated across northern Syria; however, immunisation coverage could not be calculated. Results from our routine data must be compared cautiously, due to differences in settings and disease categories. CONCLUSION: With such scattered interventions, routine data are limited in providing a quantified evidence of emergency's health impact; however, they help in drawing a picture of children's health status and highlighting difficulties in providing curative and preventive services, in order to reflect part of population's plight. What is Known • Few data exist to evaluate the impact of the Syrian war on the health of children; • Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF-OCA) has worked in northern Syria during different times since 2013. What is New • Quantitative and qualitative analysis of MSF's routine medical data and situtation reports show that one fifth of all consultations in children < 5 years in MSF health facilities in northern Syria 2013-2016 were due to communicable diseases; • The analysis also highlights the burden of chronic conditions that were prevalent in Syria before the war, e.g. thalassemia.

Analysis of Pediatric Trauma in Combat Zone to Inform High-Fidelity Simulation Predeployment Training.

OBJECTIVES: The military uses "just-in-time" training to refresh deploying medical personnel on skills necessary for medical and surgical care in the theater of operations. The burden of pediatric care at Role 2 facilities has yet to be characterized; pediatric predeployment training has been extremely limited and primarily informed by anecdotal experience. The goal of this analysis was to describe pediatric care at Role 2 facilities to enable data-driven development of high-fidelity simulation training and core knowledge concepts specific to the combat zone. SETTING AND PATIENTS: A retrospective review of the Role 2 Database was conducted on all pediatric patients (< 18 yr) admitted to Role 2 in Afghanistan from 2008-2014. INTERVENTIONS: Three cohorts were determined based on commercially available simulation models: Group 1: less than 1 year, Group 2: 1-8 years, Group 3: more than 8 years. The groups were sub-stratified by point of injury care, pre-hospital management, and Role 2 facility medical/surgical management. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Appropriate descriptive statistics (chi square and Student t test) were utilized to define demographic and epidemiologic characteristics of this population. Of 15,404 patients in the Role 2 Database, 1,318 pediatric subjects (8.5%) were identified. The majority of patients were male (80.0%) with a mean age of 9.5 years (± SD, 4.5). Injury types included: penetrating (56%), blunt (33%), and burns (7%). Mean transport time from point of injury to Role 2 was 198 minutes (±24.5 min). Mean Glasgow Coma Scale and Revised Trauma Score were 14 (± 0.1) and 7.0 (± 1.4), respectively. Role 2 surgical procedures occurred for 424 patients (32%). Overall mortality was 4% (n = 58). CONCLUSIONS: We have described the epidemiology of pediatric trauma admitted to Role 2 facilities, characterizing the spectrum of pediatric injuries that deploying providers should be equipped to manage. This analysis will function as a needs assessment to facilitate high-fidelity simulation training and the development of "pediatric trauma core knowledge concepts" for deploying providers.

Impact of traumatic upper-extremity amputation on the outcome of injury caused by an antipersonnel improvised explosive device

Background: We have previously reported a higher than expected rate of upper-extremity amputation (UEA) in victims of an antipersonnel improvised explosive device (AP-IED) compared with a similar cohort injured by antipersonnel mines (APM). The goal of this study was to describe the rate, severity and impact of UAE caused by an AP-IED. Methods: We analyzed a prospective database of 100 consecutive dismounted AP-IED victims with pattern 1 injuries to compare the outcomes of the cohort with UEA to that without. Results: We found that UEA (8 above elbow, 19 below elbow, 1 through elbow, 3 hand, 15 digit(s)) was much more prevalent with AP-IED than with APM (40% v. 6%, p < 0.001). In addition, UEA was associated with a higher rate of multiple amputations (39 [98%] v. 32 [53%], p < 0.001), bilateral lower-extremity amputation (LEA; 33 [82.5%] v. 30 [53.3%], p = 0.003) and facial injury (8 [20%] v. 4 [6.4%], p = 0.044), but not with pelvic disruption (10 [25%]), genitoperineal mutilation (19 [48%]), eye injury (6 [15%]), or skull fracture (6 [15%]). The fatality rate was higher in patients with UEA than in those without (12 [30%] v. 7 [12%], p = 0.022). Conclusion: Upper-extremity amputation is more prevalent with AP-IED than APM. Presence of UEA is associated with more severe injury and increased risk of death in AP-IED victims. Upper-limb injury has significant consequences for rehabilitation from LEA, which universally accompanies UEA in AP-IED victims. Upper-extremity injury should be amenable to prevention by innovative personal protective equipment designed to protect the flexed elbow.

Contexte: Nous avons déjà fait état d'un taux plus élevé que prévu d'amputations des membres supérieurs (AMS) chez les victimes d'engins explosifs artisanaux (EEA) comparativement à une cohorte similaire blessée par des mines antipersonnel (MAP). L'objectif de cette étude est de décrire le taux, la gravité et l'impact des AMS causées par des EEA. Méthodes: Nous avons analysé une base de données prospective de 100 victimes consécutives d'EEA alors qu'elles se trouvaient hors de leur véhicule et présentant des blessures de type 1 afin de comparer les résultats des cohortes ayant subi ou non des AMS. Résultats: Nous avons constaté que l'AMS (8 au-dessus du coude, 19 sous le coude, 1 au niveau du coude, 3 mains et 15 doigts) était beaucoup plus prévalente avec les EEA qu'avec les MAP (40 % c. 6 %, p < 0,001). De plus, l'AMS a été associée à un taux plus élevé d'amputations multiples (39 [98 %] c. 32 [53 %], p < 0,001), d'amputations bilatérales des membres inférieurs (AMI) (33 [82,5 %] c. 30 [53,3 %], p = 0,003) et de blessures au visage (8 [20 %] c. 4 [6,4 %], p = 0,044), mais non de blessures au bassin (10 [25%]), de mutilations génitopérinéales (19 [48 %]), de blessures oculaires (6 [15 %]), ou de fractures du crâne (6 [15 %]). Le taux de létalité a été plus élevé chez les patients ayant subi une AMS que chez ceux qui n'en ont pas subi (12 [30 %] c. 7 [12 %], p = 0,022). Conclusion: L'amputation des membres supérieurs est plus prévalente avec les EEA qu'avec les MAP. L'AMS est associée à des blessures plus graves et à un risque plus grand de décès chez les victimes d'un EEA. Les blessures aux membres supérieurs ont de graves conséquences sur la réadaptation nécessaire après l'AMI, qui accompagne presque toujours l'AMS chez les victimes d'un EEA. Les blessures aux membres supérieurs devraient pouvoir être évitées grâce à de l'équipement de protection individuelle novateur conçu pour protéger le coude fléchi.

Misuse of Prescribed Pain Medication in a Military Population-A Self-Reported Survey to Assess a Correlation With Age, Deployment, Combat Illnesses, or Injury?

Opioid misuse is a growing epidemic among the civilian and military communities. Five hundred prospective, anonymous surveys were collected in the emergency department waiting room of a military tertiary care hospital over 3 weeks. Demographics, medical and military characteristics were investigated for association with opioid use. Univariate logistic models were used to characterize the probability of misuse in relation to the demographic, medical, and military-specific variables. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder were investigated within different age cohorts with adjustment for deployment. The opioid misuse rate disclosed by the subject was 31%. Subjects with TBI were less likely to misuse opioids. We found a trend among younger cohorts to have a higher likelihood for misusing opioids when diagnosed with TBI or posttraumatic stress disorder with history of deployment in the past 5 years. The most common form of misuse was using a previously prescribed medication for a new pain. Traumatic brain injury and/or enrollment in post-deployment recovery programs maybe protective against opioid misuse. Chronic opioid use among young soldiers maybe viewed as a weakness that could influence opioid misuse. Younger cohorts of active duty service members could be at higher risk for misuse. Efforts to enhance close monitoring of misuse should address these at-risk populations.

Analyses of demographical and injury characteristics of adult and pediatric patients injured in Syrian civil war.

PURPOSE: Aimed to analyze demographical data and injury characteristics of patients who were injured in the Syrian Civil War (SCW) and to define differences in injury characteristics between adult and pediatric patients. METHODOLOGY: Patients who were injured in the SCW and transferred to our emergency department were retrospectively analyzed in this study during the 15-month period between July 2013 and October 2014. RESULTS: During the study period, 1591 patients who were the victims of the SCW and admitted to our emergency department due to war injury enrolled in the study. Of these patients, 285 were children (18%). The median of the injury severity score was 16 (interquartile range [IQR]: 9-25) in all patients. The most frequent mechanism of injury was blunt trauma (899 cases, 55%), and the most frequently-injured region of the body was the head (676 cases, 42.5%). Head injury rates among the children's group were higher than those of the adult group (P < .001). In contrast, injury rates for the abdomen and extremities in the children's group were lower than those in the adult group (P < .001, P < .001). CONCLUSION: The majority of patients were adults, and the most frequent mechanism of injury was blunt trauma. Similarly, the children were substantially affected by war. Although the injury severity score values and mortality rates of the child and adult groups were similar, it was determined that the number of head injuries was higher, but the number of abdomen and extremity injuries was lower in the children's group than in the adult group.

Maxillofacial Injuries Related to the Syrian War in the Civilian Population.

PURPOSE: Injured Syrian patients are commonly transferred to local hospitals and field clinics immediately after being injured. Since February 2011, more than 2,000 injured Syrian patients have been transferred to and treated in northern Israeli medical centers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the epidemiology and general nature of the injuries, with special attention to maxillofacial (MF) injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical files of all injured Syrian patients who were treated in 2 major medical centers in northern Israel from December 2012 through December 2015 were reviewed. Computerized data were collected and analyzed based on the cause of injury, anatomic location, Injury Severity Score (ISS) at admission, hospitalization duration, and duration in the intensive care unit. RESULTS: The study cohort included 227 patients (204 male [90%], 23 female [10%]; mean age, 24.5 ± 11 yr). The median calculated ISS was 20.6 ± 13.9. The mean interval from injury to recorded admission time was 86.37 hours. Fifty patients had MF injuries (22%). Of these, 45 were adults (44 men, 6 women). Patients' age ranged from 16 to 27.3 years. The mean interval from injury to time of admission was 24 hours and the mean ISS on admission was 24.5 ± 12.7, which was significantly higher than the overall ISS (median, 24.5 vs 16; P = .005). CONCLUSION: Several features observed in the present study had a direct effect on treatment quality and success. Those features included delay from injury to hospital admission; lack of body armor protection, including helmets, which explained the high prevalence of MF injuries; and the multiple sites of injury.

Homecoming of Citizen Soldiers: Postdeployment Problems and Service Use Among Army National Guard Soldiers.

The present study described the types and amount of problems and services sought among returned deployed Army National Guard soldiers (4568 soldiers in 50 units). The study responds to gaps in the research literature to better understand community intervention needs of reservists. About half (48%) of the soldiers reported one or two problems, mostly those of psychological well-being, such as feelings of anger and frustration, upsetting memories, and troubled sleep (34% of the study sample), followed by problems of social support (18%), alcohol use (17%), feelings of isolation including suicidal thoughts (13%), and financial difficulties (11%). Having engaged in direct combat and having wounded or killed someone showed positive relationships with reported problems. One-third (35%) of soldiers who reported having used services went to one service and, generally, soldiers went to services related to their expressed problems. Variance in self-reported problems explained by service use was low, suggesting unsought postdeployment services.

Retrospective Analysis of Long-Term Outcomes After Combat Injury: A Hidden Cost of War.

BACKGROUND: During the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, 52,087 service members have been wounded in combat. The long-term sequelae of these injuries have not been carefully examined. We sought to determine the relation between markers of injury severity and the subsequent development of hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective cohort study of critically injured US military personnel wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan from February 1, 2002 to February 1, 2011. Patients were then followed until January 18, 2013. Chronic disease outcomes were assessed by International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition codes and causes of death were confirmed by autopsy. From 6011 admissions, records were excluded because of missing data or if they were for an individual's second admission. Patients with a disease diagnosis of interest before the injury date were also excluded, yielding a cohort of 3846 subjects for analysis. After adjustment for other factors, each 5-point increment in the injury severity score was associated with a 6%, 13%, 13%, and 15% increase in incidence rates of hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease, respectively. Acute kidney injury was associated with a 66% increase in rates of hypertension and nearly 5-fold increase in rates of chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS: In Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the severity of combat injury was associated with the subsequent development of hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease.

A decade of pelvic vascular injuries during the Global War on Terror.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic vascular injuries (PVIs) rarely occur in isolation and are often associated with significant morbidity. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence, trends, and early outcomes of PVIs sustained in combat. METHODS: The Department of Defense Trauma Registry was queried to identify all patients treated with PVIs during the first 10 years of Operation Enduring Freedom. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, type of vascular injury, in-theater complications, and early clinical outcomes were examined. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2012, 143 patients (99% male) sustained a PVI in Afghanistan. During this period, there was a persistent increase in the percentage of patient visits (0.4% in 2003 to 2.0% in 2012). The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 24. Sixty-six percent of patient injuries were secondary to explosions. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) encountered by dismounted personnel accounted for 47% of all injuries and were associated with a significantly higher ISS (28) compared with all other mechanisms of injury (P < .01). There were 85 (43%) arterial and 112 (57%) venous PVIs. The most frequent arterial injury was the common iliac artery. Injury to the femoral vein was associated with a higher median transfusion requirement. One patient died in combat theater. Injuries from IEDs had higher rates of coagulopathy, acidosis, and hypothermia compared with other mechanisms of injury (P = .03). Forty-two patients (29%) sustained early infectious complications. Injuries from explosions were also associated with a significantly higher rate of infectious complications compared with other mechanisms of injury (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: PVIs have occurred with increasing frequency during Operation Enduring Freedom. Despite a persistently low mortality, complication and infection rates remain high, particularly when injuries are secondary to explosions. IEDs are associated with higher ISS and complication rates. Future studies must continue to focus on the prevention and treatment of PVIs sustained in combat, particularly those caused by explosions.

Prevalence and Predictors of Prehospital Pain Assessment and Analgesic Use in Military Trauma Patients, 2010-2013.

INTRODUCTION: Pain is the most common symptom in patients presenting for prehospital (PH) care. Research in civilian emergency medical systems has shown wide variability in PH pain assessment and analgesic practices, yet a minimal amount is known about pain assessment and analgesic intervention practices in the military, particularly when PH care is delivered in a combat zone. OBJECTIVE: To describe prehospital (PH) pain care practices for U.S. military personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan 2010-2013 and explore potential relationships to explain variation. METHODS: An exploratory retrospective, cross-sectional study of Department of Defense Trauma Registry data from 2010 to 2013 was performed. Demographic, clinical, or health system variables for associations with three outcomes: 1) pain assessment documentation; 2) pain severity (0-10 scale); and 3) analgesic administration (yes/no). Including only variables with significant associations, backward stepwise regression was used to develop explanatory models for each outcome. RESULTS: Patient records (n = 3,317) were evaluated for documentation of PH pain assessment and analgesic administration. The prevalence of PH pain score documentation was 37.8% (n = 1,253). Overall, the proportion of records with PH pain scores increased over time: 19.8% (2010), 35.1% (2011), 58.2% (2012), and 62.2% (2013). Severity of pain scores ranged 0-10; mean = 5.5 (SD = 3.1); median = 6 (IQR = 3-8). Analgesics were reported for 50.8% (n = 1,684), of whom 38.3% had a pain severity score documented. The pain assessment documentation model included any documented vital signs, injury year, and mechanism of injury and explained 19.3% of the variance in documentation. The pain severity model included vital signs and injury severity score (ISS) and explained 5.0% of the variance in severity. The analgesic model included any vital signs, pain severity, trauma type, mechanism of injury, ISS, and year. CONCLUSIONS: Pain assessment and treatment documentation improved each year, but remain suboptimal. Available data yielded poor prediction of the outcomes of interest, emphasizing the importance of individual assessment. Analgesic effectiveness could not be evaluated.