Criteria and diagnostic scale of the post-combat delayed response (tension) syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: War participation risks mental disorders. Ukrainian combatants in Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation since 2014 receive psychiatric care. Some show unique symptoms, not fitting recognized disorders, termed post-combat delayed response (tension) syndrome. The aim of this study was to establish diagnostic criteria and develop a scale of differential diagnosis of post-combat delayed response (tension) syndrome. METHODS: This was a clinical retrospective study conducted on the basis of Zaporizhzhia Military Hospital and Zaporizhzhia and State Medical University, Ukraine, in the period from 2015 to 2021. Combatants of Ukraine-members of Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation were involved in the study. In total, 426 male combatants were surveyed from whom those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 24), neurasthenia (n = 35), and post-combat delayed response (tension) syndrome (n = 46) were selected. RESULTS: The key symptoms of post-combat delayed response (tension) syndrome were selected and ranked in order of their differential diagnostic value. The diagnostic scale for post-combat delayed response (tension) syndrome was developed, which consists of 12 points. CONCLUSIONS: The received anamnestic information is important for classifying patients at risk of post-combat delayed response (tension) syndrome.

Non-therapeutic laparotomies in military trauma (2009-2014).

BACKGROUND: Combat casualties are frequently injured in austere settings where modern imaging modalities are unavailable. Exploratory laparotomies are often performed in these settings when there is suspicion for intra-abdominal injury. Prior studies of combat casualties reported non-therapeutic laparotomy (NTL) rates as high as 32%. Given improvements in combat casualty care over time, we evaluated NTLs performed during later years of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. METHODS: Military personnel with combat-related injuries (6/1/2009-12/31/2014) who underwent exploratory laparotomy based on concern for abdominal injury (i.e. not performed for proximal vascular control or fecal diversion) and were evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (Germany) before being transferred to participating U.S. military hospitals were assessed. An NTL was defined as a negative laparotomy without substantial intra-abdominal injuries requiring repair. Characteristics, indications for laparotomy, operative findings, and outcomes were examined. RESULTS: Among 244 patients who underwent laparotomies, 41 (16.8%) had NTLs and 203 (83.2%) had therapeutic laparotomies (i.e. positive findings). Patients with NTLs had more computed tomography scans concerning for injury (48.8% vs 27.1%; p = 0.006), less penetrating injury mechanisms (43.9% vs 71.9%; p < 0.001), and lower Injury Severity Scores (26 vs 33; p = 0.003) compared to patients with therapeutic laparotomies. Patients with NTLs were also less likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (70.7 vs 89.2% for patients with therapeutic laparotomies; p = 0.007). No patients with NTLs developed abdominal surgical site infections (SSI) compared to 16.7% of patients with therapeutic laparotomies (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in mortality between the groups (p = 0.198). CONCLUSIONS: Our proportion of NTLs was lower than reported from earlier years during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. No infectious complications from NTLs (i.e. abdominal SSIs) were identified. Nevertheless, surgeons should continue to have a low threshold for exploratory laparotomy in military patients in austere settings with concern for intra-abdominal injury.

Methemoglobinemia screening and treatment in tank warfare survivors.

INTRODUCTION: Methemoglobinemia, characterized by the conversion of functional hemoglobin to methemoglobin, can significantly impede tissue oxygenation. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of methemoglobinemia are critical to optimizing clinical outcomes. Although the underlying etiology of methemoglobinemia is often attributed to a medication reaction or chemical exposure, its association with battlefield trauma remains underexplored. This case series explores the presence of methemoglobinemia in nine soldiers evacuated from tanks targeted by explosives, shedding new light on screening needs and treatment strategies. CASES DESCRIPTION: Nine combat trauma patients with methemoglobinemia were admitted to Soroka Medical Center over a two-month period. Detailed case descriptions illustrate the diverse presentations and treatment responses. Notably, the administration of methylene blue resulted in rapid methemoglobin reductions and an improvement in oxygenation without any observed side effects. DISCUSSION: This series highlights an unexpected consequence of an explosion within an armored fighting vehicle and the challenges related to standard pulse oximetry interpretation and accuracy in the presence of methemoglobinemia, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring and co-oximetry utilization. Additionally, the coexistence of carboxyhemoglobin further warrants attention due to its synergistic and deleterious effects on oxygen delivery. Collaborative efforts with military authorities should aim to explore the underlying mechanisms associated with trauma and methemoglobinemia and optimize battlefield care. CONCLUSION: This case series underscores the significance of methemoglobinemia screening in combat trauma patients, and advocates for systematic co-oximetry utilization and methylene blue availability in combat zones. Early detection and intervention of methemoglobinemia in combat soldiers are often difficult in the context of battlefield injuries but are necessary to mitigate the potentially fatal consequences of this condition.

Military sexual trauma, combat trauma, and disordered eating among United States veterans: An exploration of underlying mechanisms.

Military sexual trauma (MST) and combat trauma (CT) survivors experience disproportionate risk for disordered eating. A survey of MST, CT, disordered eating, trauma-related self-blame, emotion regulation challenges, body dissatisfaction, and dissociation among military personnel with a history of military-related trauma was conducted. These survey-based cross-sectional data were analyzed via parallel mediation analyses and Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVA). Six parallel mediation analyses were conducted examining trauma-related self-blame, emotion regulation challenges, body dissatisfaction, and dissociation as mediators linking MST and CT, separately, with purging, restricting, and bingeing. ANCOVAs were also performed to examine differences in levels of bingeing, restriction, and purging among people exposed to MST, CT, both MST and CT, and neither. MST and CT exposure was indirectly related to bingeing via emotion regulation challenges. MST and CT was also indirectly related to both restriction and purging via emotion regulation challenges and trauma-related self-blame. Dissociation and body dissatisfaction were not significant mediators in any model. Participants endorsed high levels of disordered eating. Individuals exposed to both MST and CT reported greater bingeing, restricting, and purging than individuals exposed to either CT, MST, or neither. Findings highlight the nuanced symptoms that may increase risk for disordered eating among MST and/or CT survivors. Future treatment research should explore how addressing emotion regulation and trauma-related self-blame among individuals with MST and/or CT may help address disordered eating. Implications and future directions for this area of research are discussed.

The U.S. Armed Services Blood Program support to U.S. Central Command 2014-2021: Transformation of combat trauma resuscitation through blood product innovation and expansion of blood availability far forward.

BACKGROUND: The United States Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) faced complex blood supply challenges during two decades of military operations in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and through an adaptive, responsive, and agile system, gained valuable insights on blood product usage in combat casualty care. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective review of blood product introduction and utilization trends was compiled from ASBP data collected during CENTCOM operations from 2014 through 2021. RESULTS: During the study period, several blood products were introduced to the CENTCOM area of operations including Low Titer O Whole Blood (LTOWB), Cold-Stored Platelets (CSP), Liquid Plasma (LP), and French Freeze Dried Plasma (FDP) manufactured from U.S. sourced donor plasma, all while expanding Walking Blood Bank capabilities. There was a gradual substitution of component therapy for whole blood; blood utilization peaked in 2017. Transfusion of Fresh Whole Blood (FWB) from Walking Blood Banks decreased as fully pre-tested LTOWB was supplied by the ASBP. LTOWB was initially supplied in citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) anticoagulant (21-day shelf life) but was largely replaced with LTOWB in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) anticoagulant (35-day shelf life) by 2019. Implementation of prehospital transfusion and expansion of surgical and resuscitation teams led to an increase in the number of sites receiving blood. DISCUSSION: ASBP introduced new products to its inventory in order to meet changing blood product demands driven by changes in the Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guidelines and operational demands. These products were adopted into clinical practice with a resultant evolution in transfusion strategies.

Prognostic Value of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score in Critically-Ill Combat-Injured Patients.

Background: Infection is a frequent and serious complication after combat-related trauma. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score has been shown to have predictive value for outcomes, including sepsis and mortality, among various populations. We evaluated the prognostic ability of SOFA score in a combat-related trauma population. Methods: Combat casualties (2009-2014) admitted to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC; Germany) intensive care unit (ICU) within 4 days post-injury followed by transition to ICUs in military hospitals in the United States were included. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictive effect of selected variables and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate overall accuracy of SOFA score for infection prediction. Results: Of the 748 patients who met inclusion criteria, 436 (58%) were diagnosed with an infection (32% bloodstream, 63% skin and soft tissue, and 40% pulmonary) and were predominantly young (median 24 years) males. Penetrating trauma accounted for 95% and 86% of injuries among those with and without infections, respectively (p < 0.001). Median LRMC admission SOFA score was 7 (interquartile range [IQR]: 4-9) in patients with infections versus 4 (IQR: 2-6) in patients without infections (p < 0.001). Thirty-day mortality was 2% in both groups. On multivariate regression, LRMC SOFA score was independently associated with infection development (odds ratio: 1.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.3). The ROC curve analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.69 for infection prediction, and 0.80 for mortality prediction. Conclusions: The SOFA scores obtained up to 4 days post-injury predict late onset infection occurrence. This study revealed that for every 1 point increase in LRMC SOFA score, the odds of having an infection increases by a factor of 1.2, controlling for other predictors. The use of SOFA score in admission assessments may assist clinicians with identifying those at higher risk of infection following combat-related trauma.

Risk of Acute Kidney Injury in Combat-Injured Patients Associated With Concomitant Vancomycin and Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactam Antibiotic Use.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant infections complicating combat-related trauma necessitate the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials. Recent literature posits an association between vancomycin (VANC) and piperacillin-tazobactam (VPT) combination therapy and acute kidney injury (AKI). We examined whether therapy with VPT was associated with an increased risk of AKI compared to VANC and other broad-spectrum ß-lactam antibiotics (VBL) following combat-related injuries. METHODS: Patients within the Trauma Infectious Disease Outcomes Study (TIDOS) who received ≥48 hours concomitant VPT or VBL started within 24 hours of each other were assessed. Exclusion criteria were receipt of renal replacement therapy and baseline creatinine >1.5 mg/dL. Acute kidney injury was defined by meeting any of the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End Stage Renal Disease (RIFLE), AKIN, or VANC consensus guidelines criteria 3 to 7 days after therapy initiation. Variables significantly associated with AKI were used in inverse probability treatment weighting to perform univariate and subsequent logistic regression multivariate modeling to determine significant risk factors for AKI. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients who received VPT and 207 who received VBL were included. Both groups had a median age of 24 years and initial median creatinine of 0.7 mg/dL. The VBL patients were more likely to have sustained blast injuries (P = .001) and received nephrotoxic agents (amphotericin [P = .002] and aminoglycosides [P < .001]). In the VBL group, AKI incidence was 9.7% compared to 13.1% in the VPT group (P = .438). Multivariate analysis identified a relative risk of 1.727 (95% CI: 1.027-2.765) for AKI associated with VPT exposure. Acute kidney injury severity generally met RIFLE Risk criteria and was 1 day in duration. Only 1 patient had persistent renal dysfunction 30 days after therapy completion. CONCLUSION: In this young and previously healthy, severely ill combat-injured population, VPT was associated with nearly twice the risk of AKI compared to VBL. Nevertheless, AKI was of low severity, short duration, and had high rates of renal recovery.

Combat-Sustained Peripheral Nerve Injuries in the United States Military.

PURPOSE: Combat-sustained peripheral nerve injuries (CSPNIs) are often the result of high-energy blast mechanisms and are increasing in frequency and severity among US forces engaged in contemporary warfare. The purpose of this study was to describe CSPNIs and report outcomes after evaluation in a military multidisciplinary peripheral nerve clinic. We hypothesized that a shorter time to evaluation by a multidisciplinary peripheral nerve team would improve outcomes. METHODS: The Peripheral Nerve Consortium (PNC) maintains an electronic database of all active duty service members who sustained a peripheral nerve injury (PNI) and were treated by the PNC between 2004 and 2009. This database was queried for service member demographic information, injury characteristics, wounding patterns, CSPNI description, surgical procedures, and Medical Research Council final motor and sensory outcome. RESULTS: Among the 104 service members treated by the PNC in the 6-year period reviewed, there were 138 PNIs. Average age was 27 years, time to initial evaluation by the PNC was 4 (±7) months, and average follow-up was 18 (±18) months. Associated injuries included fractures (31.1%), multiple PNIs (76.8%), vascular injury (30.4%), and traumatic brain injury (34.1%). There was no association between Sunderland classification and time to evaluation, mechanism of injury, or nerve injured. However, Sunderland classification was correlated with final motor and final sensory scores. Service members with better final sensory score (S1 or S2) had shorter time to initial evaluation than did patients with a final sensory score of S0 (<0.05). This did not hold true for final motor score. CONCLUSIONS: Service members with more severe initial injuries had worse final outcomes. Although timely referral does not occur for most CSPNIs, a shorter time to presentation also led to improved sensory recovery. Complex combat-sustained PNIs may be best understood and treated within a multidisciplinary team. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic IV.

Spiritual care for combat trauma: A qualitative evaluation of REBOOT Combat Recovery.

Combat trauma experienced in a warzone can hamper the physical, mental, and spiritual health of military service members and Veterans for years afterward. Spiritual care for combat trauma is designed to help service members and Veterans find meaning and purpose in their experiences. One such spiritual care program is REBOOT Combat Recovery, a 12-week, Christian-based course led by trained volunteers across the country. An in-depth investigation of the REBOOT program is needed to advance knowledge of spiritual care for combat trauma and to assess the course in attendees' own words. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 course graduates. Experiences of the course were positive. Interviewees identified the program's emphasis on peer fellowship, spirituality, and the roots of distress as reasons for its effectiveness (RQ1). The most helpful aspects of the program involved the hospitality and family focus; targets for improvement included maintaining fidelity to the curriculum and offering opportunities for continuity upon graduation (RQ2). Interviewees described a variety of ways the course affected their view of self, their relationship with God and others, and their perceptions of combat trauma (RQ3). These findings are valuable for enriching spiritual care, in general, and enhancing the REBOOT Combat Recovery program, in particular.

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF PERIPHERAL NERVES COMBAT WOUNDS OF THE EXTREMITIES.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: Improving the effectiveness of patients' treatment with combat injuries of the peripheral nervous system, which consists in the application and development of new methods of reconstructive interventions, optimizing a set of therapeutic and diagnostic measures for the most effective management of this category of patients with peripheral nerve injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The research is based on the results of surgical treatment of 138 patients with combat injuries of peripheral nerves for the period from 2014 to 2020. The mean age was 33.5 ± 2.1 years. Patients were treated for 1 to 11 months after injury (median - 8 months). Damage to the sciatic nerve was observed in 26.1%, ulnar - in 20.3%, median - in 18.8%, radial - in 15.9%, tibial - in 10.9%, common peroneal nerve - in 8% of cases. RESULTS: Results: It was shown that in all patients was significantly improved the recovery of all nerves. In the period from 9 to 12 months, the degree of recovery of motor function to M0-M2 was observed in 40.6%, to M3 - in 35.5%, to M4 - in 16.7%, to M5 - in 7,2%. The degree of recovery of sensitivity to S0-S2 was observed in 36.2%, to S3 - in 42.8%, to S4 - in 17.4%, to S5 - in 3.6%. Regression of pain syndrome after surgery was observed in 81.2% of patients. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The results of surgical treatment of peripheral nerves gunshot injury are generally worse than other types of nerve injuries. The best results of surgical treatment of combat trauma of peripheral nerves are obtained in patients with sciatic nerve damage.

Shock Index as a Predictor of Massive Transfusion and Emergency Surgery on the Modern Battlefield.

BACKGROUND: Shock Index (SI) has been used to predict the need for massive transfusion (MT) and emergency surgical procedures (ESP) in civilian trauma. We hypothesize that SI can reliably identify combat trauma patients that will require MT and ESP when applied to the resource-constrained, combat environment. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed within the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (2008-2016). SI was calculated using heart rate and systolic blood pressure on arrival to the initial facility with surgical capabilities. A threshold value of 0.8 was used to stratify patients into two groups (Group I, SI < 0.8; and Group II, SI ≥ 0.8). The need for MT, ESP, and mortality was compared. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the independent association of SI with MT and ESP. RESULTS: A total of 4008 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 25.5 y, and the majority were predominately male (98%). Mechanisms of injury were blunt and blast injury (62%), penetrating injury (36.7%), and burn injury (0.5%). Overall, 77% of patients (n = 3070) were stratified to Group I, and 23% of patients (n = 938) were stratified to Group II, by SI. Group II patients had a significantly greater need for MT (8.4% versus 0.4%) and ESP (30.7% versus 6.5%), both P < 0.001. Regression analysis controlling for age, gender, Injury Severity Score, and Glasgow Coma Score confirmed that SI ≥ 0.8 was an independent risk factor for both MT and need for ESPs (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SI is a significant predictor of the need for MT and ESPs in the military trauma population, representing a simple and potentially potent tool for triage and prediction of resource consumption in the resource-limited, austere setting.

Optimal Prospective Predictors of Mortality in Austere Environments.

BACKGROUND: Prospective predictors of trauma-related outcomes have been validated to guide management in low-resource settings. The primary objective of this study was to determine the optimal prospective prediction method for mortality within combat and humanitarian trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of the Department of Defense Trauma Registry from 2008 to 2016 was performed for adult patients. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) were calculated to assess the predictability of shock index (SI), reverse SI × Glasgow Coma Scale (rSIG), SI × Glasgow Coma Scale (SIG), Revised Trauma Score, and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) on mortality at point of injury, arrival in emergency department (ED), and the difference in vital signs between those time points. RESULTS: A total of 22,218 patients were included. Overall, 97.1% were male, median age range 25-29 y, Injury Severity Score 9.4 ± 0.07, with predominantly penetrating injuries (58.1%), and mortality of 3.4%. ED vitals yielded higher predictability of mortality for all tests based on higher AUROCs. TRISS and rSIG demonstrated the highest AUROCs (0.955 and 0.923, respectively). The optimal cutoff value for rSIG was 14.1 (sensitivity 89% and specificity 87%). rSIG values <14.1 were significantly associated with mortality (P < 0.01; odds ratio = 5.901). CONCLUSIONS: Initial ED vital signs represented a better predictor of early mortality compared with point of injury vital signs for all predictive tools assessed. TRISS and rSIG proved to be most predictive of mortality. However, of the prospective tools assessed, rSIG may be optimal scoring tool because of its ease of calculation and its increased ability to predict mortality.

Childhood trauma, combat trauma, and substance use in National Guard and reserve soldiers.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this work was to examine associations among childhood trauma, combat trauma, and substance use (alcohol problems, frequent heavy drinking [FHD], current cigarette smoking, and current/lifetime drug use) and the interaction effects of childhood trauma and combat exposure on those associations among National Guard/reserve soldiers. METHODS: Participants (N = 248) completed an electronic survey asking questions about their military experiences, physical and mental health, and substance use. Childhood trauma and combat exposure were examined jointly in regression models, controlling for age, marital satisfaction, and number of deployments. RESULTS: Childhood trauma was associated with current drug use (trend level, odds ratio [OR] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97, 2.14; P = .072) in the main effect model; however, there was not a significant interaction with combat. Combat exposure had a significant interaction with childhood trauma on alcohol problems (b = -0.56, 95% CI: -1.12, -0.01; P = .048), FHD (b = -0.27, 95% CI: -0.47, -0.08; P = .007), and lifetime drug use (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.04; P = .035). There were no associations with either of the trauma measures and current cigarette smoking. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that childhood and combat trauma have differential effects on alcohol use, such that combat trauma may not add to the effect on alcohol use in those with greater child maltreatment but may contribute to greater alcohol use among those with low child maltreatment. As expected, childhood and combat trauma had synergistic effects on lifetime drug use. Screening for multiple types of trauma prior to enlistment and/or deployment may help to identify at-risk individuals and allow time for early intervention to prevent future adverse outcomes.

Treatment of Thoracic Trauma: Lessons From the Battlefield Adapted to All Austere Environments.

Severe thoracic trauma in the backcountry can be a formidable injury pattern to successfully treat. Traumatic open, pneumo-, and hemothoraces represent some of the most significant patterns for which advanced equipment and procedures may help leverage morbidity and mortality, particularly when evacuation is delayed and environmental conditions are extreme. This paper reviews the development of successful techniques for treating combat casualties with thoracic trauma, including the use of vented chest seals and the technique of needle thoracentesis. Recommendations are then given for applying this knowledge and skill set in the backcountry.

The Transition to the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care.

The original Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) guidelines were published in a special supplement to Military Medicine in 1996 as the terminal deliverable of a 2-year development project funded by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Two years later, the USSOCOM Biomedical Initiatives Steering Committee (BISC) promulgated its Task Statement 5-98, in which it called for the formation of a panel of subject matter experts to update the TCCC guidelines. This article discusses the formation of the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC) and the changes to the original guidelines that constituted the first update.

High-resolution ultrasound in combat-related peripheral nerve injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) sustained in combat are typically severe and are frequently associated with marked soft tissue damage, anatomic distortion, and retained metallic fragments. These features complicate clinical and electrodiagnostic assessment and may preclude MRI. METHODS: We describe 4 cases of military personnel who sustained high-velocity gunshot wounds or blasts with metal fragment injuries in which high resolution peripheral nerve ultrasound (US) proved beneficial. RESULTS: In these cases, the clinical and electrodiagnostic exams provided inadequate localization and severity data of the nerve injuries, and MRI was either precluded or provided no additional information. In each case, US disclosed focal nerve segment abnormalities, including regions of focal enlargement and nerve discontinuity with end-bulb neuroma, which guided surgical planning for nerve repair. The findings on US were subsequently confirmed intra-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: High resolution peripheral nerve US is a useful modality in assessment of combat-related PNI. Muscle Nerve, 2016 Muscle Nerve 54: 1139-1144, 2016.

The Impact of Hazardous Alcohol Use on Behavioral Healthcare Utilization Among National Guard Service Members.

BACKGROUND: Prior research suggests that both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol abuse affect behavioral healthcare utilization among combat-exposed military populations. However, their interactive effect is not well documented, especially after experiencing psychological trauma. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the role of hazardous alcohol use (i.e. repeated patterns of drinking which lead to harmful consequences) on behavioral healthcare utilization among service members stratified by past-year combat exposure. METHOD: This study utilized a sample of National Guard service members who participated in an in-depth survey 2-4 months after returning from Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn deployments (2011-2013) (n = 467). We examine the marginal effect (the change in the probability) of hazardous alcohol use on utilization while controlling for trauma exposure, PTSD and other potential covariates. RESULTS: In the unadjusted logistic model, hazardous alcohol use reduced the probability of behavioral healthcare utilization by 77% among service members who had been exposed to combat within the past year. In the adjusted model, which controlled for socio-demographics (age, gender, and race), health status (PTSD symptoms, depression and physical health), and measures of stigma (perception of services as embarrassing or harmful to one's career or social networks), hazardous alcohol use further reduced the utilization probability by 302%. CONCLUSION/IMPORTANCE: Although these findings require replication, they appear to demonstrate that when combat-exposed service members engaged in hazardous alcohol use at postdeployment, they were much less likely to utilize behavioral healthcare to manage their posttraumatic stress symptoms during this period.

A modern combat trauma.

INTRODUCTION: The world remains plagued by wars and terrorist attacks, and improvised explosive devices (IED) are the main weapons of our current enemies, causing almost two-thirds of all combat injuries. We wished to analyse the pattern of blast trauma on the modern battlefield and to compare it with combat gunshot injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analysis of a consecutive series of combat trauma patients presenting to two Bulgarian combat surgical teams in Afghanistan over 11 months. Demographics, injury patterns and Injury Severity Scores (ISS) were compared between blast and gunshot-injured casualties using Fisher's Exact Test. RESULTS: The blast victims had significantly higher median ISS (20.54 vs 9.23) and higher proportion of ISS>16 (60% vs 33.92%, p=0.008) than gunshot cases. They also had more frequent involvement of three or more body regions (47.22% vs 3.58%, p<0.0001). A significantly higher frequency of head (27.27% vs 3.57%), facial (20% vs 0%) and extremities injuries (85.45% vs 42.86%) and burns (12.72% vs 0%) was noted among the victims of explosion (p<0.0001). Based on clinical examination and diagnostic imaging, primary blast injury was identified in 24/55 (43.6%), secondary blast injury in 37 blast cases (67.3%), tertiary in 15 (27.3%) and quaternary blast injury (all burns) in seven (12.72%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results corroborate the 'multidimensional' injury pattern of blast trauma. The complexity of the blast trauma demands a good knowledge and a special training of the military surgeons and hospital personnel before deployment.

Renal injuries in conflict zones: a 6-year study of traumatic cases in Afghanistan.

PURPOSE: During hostilities, gunshot wounds are the most common cause of penetrating injuries. In 8-10% of abdominal injuries kidneys are involved. The treatment method include surgical or conservative treatment (fluids + blood components). METHODS: Of 1266 combat trauma cases treated during 6 to 14 rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan, we extracted a subgroup of 44 kidney injuries. Corelation of trauma mechanism, PATI score, treatment methods, and outcomes was evaluated. RESULTS: Out of the 41 renal injuries, 20 considered left, 18 right, and 3 both kidneys. There were no statistical significancy in injury lateralization (p = 0.669), and no differences regarding side of a trauma and quantity of blood component used for the treatment (p = 0.246). Nephrectomy was performed on 17 patients (13 left vs. 4 right). A significant correlation between PATI score and the need for a nephrectomy (p = 0.027) was confirmed. Penetrating trauma recquired higher number of blood components comparing to blunt trauma (p < 0.001). The renal salvage rate was in study group was 61.36%. The overall survival (OS) rate was 90.25% - 4 patients died due to trauma. CONCLUSIONS: The damage side does not result in a statistically significant increase in the need for blood transfusions or differences in the PATI score. The mechanism of trauma does, however, affect the number of blood components required for treatment, particularly in cases of penetrating trauma. With the introduction of proper treatment, the overall survival rate exceeds 90%, even when opting for conservative treatment.

From active duty to activism: how moral injury and combat trauma drive political activism and societal reintegration among Israeli veterans.

Trigger warning: This article deals with combat experiences and their consequences and could be potentially disturbing. Introduction: Moral injury (MI) is a severe form of combat trauma that shatters soldiers' moral bearings as the result of killing in war. Among the myriad ways that moral injury affects veterans' reintegration into civilian life, its impact on political and societal reintegration remains largely unstudied but crucial for personal, community, and national health. Methods: 13 in-depth interviews examine combat soldiers' exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) that include killing enemy combatants, harming civilians, and betrayal by commanders, the military system, and society. Interviewees also described their political activities (e.g., voting, fundraising, advocacy, protest) and social activism (e.g., volunteering, teaching, charitable work). Interviewees also completed the Moral Injury Symptom Scale. Results: Two distinct narratives process PMIEs. In a humanitarian narrative, soldiers hold themselves or their in-group morally responsible for perpetrating, witnessing, or failing to prevent a morally transgressive act such as killing or injuring civilians or placing others at unnecessary risk. In contrast, a national security perspective blames an out-group for leaving soldiers with no choice but to act in ways that trigger moral distress. Associated with shame and guilt, the humanitarian perspective triggered amends-making and social activism after discharge. In contrast, a national security perspective associated with anger and frustration fostered protest and intense political activism. Discussion: Despite its harmful health effects, moral trauma and injury can drive intense political and social activism, depending upon the narrative veterans adopt to interpret PMIEs. Aside from moral injury's personal, familial, and social effects, moral injury drives veterans' return to the political arena of civil society. As such, veterans play a central role in politics and dramatically affect post-war policy in democratic nations following conflict.