Citation

Andersen RC, Frisch HM, Farber GL, Hayda RA. J. Am. Acad. Orthop. Surg. 2006; 14(10 Spec No.): S24-31.

Affiliation

Orthopaedic Traumatology, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17003202

Abstract

More than 9,000 casualties have been evacuated during the current conflict, and more than 40,000 orthopaedic surgical procedures have been performed. The most severely injured patients are treated in the United States at military medical centers. Individualized reconstructive plans are developed, and patients are treated with state-of-the-art techniques. Rehabilitation includes the assistance of the physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapy, and occupational therapy services, as well as, when necessary, psychiatric or other services. The extreme challenges of treating war-related soft-tissue defects include neurovascular injuries, burns, heterotopic ossification, infection, prolonged recovery, and persistent pain. Such injuries do not allow full restoration of function. Because of such devastating injuries, and despite use of up-to-date methods, outcomes can be less than optimal.

Language: en