Citation

Zhang JK, Botterbush KS, Bagdady K, Lei CH, Mercier P, Mattei TA. World Neurosurg. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.wneu.2022.08.073

PMID

36028113

Abstract

Blast-related traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a significant cause of wartime morbidity and mortality. In recent years, thermobaric weapons have emerged as particularly devastating weapons associated with bTBI. With recent documentation of the use of these weapons in the war in Ukraine, clinicians and laypersons alike may benefit from an improved understanding behind the dynamic interplay between explosive weaponry, its potential for bTBI, and the subsequent long-term consequences of these injuries. Therefore, we provide a general overview of the history and mechanism-of-action behind thermobaric weapons as well as a review of blast-related traumatic brain injury. In addition, we highlight the long-term cognitive and neuropsychiatric sequela following bTBI and discuss diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitation strategies, with the aim to help guide mitigation strategies and humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

Language: en

Keywords

traumatic brain injury; post-traumatic stress disorder; blast-related traumatic brain injury; thermobaric weapons; Ukraine