Citation

Ramasamy A, Harrisson SE, Stewart MPM. Inj. Extra 2008; 39(5): 158-158.

Affiliation

British Military Field Hospital Shaibah, Operation TELIC, Iraq.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2007.11.295

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background: Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the conflict has evolved from asymmetric warfare to a counter-insurgency operation. This study investigates the pattern of wounding and types of injuries seen in casualties of hostile action presenting to a British military Field Hospital during the present conflict. Methods: From January 2006 to October 2006, data was collected on all casualties of hostile action (HA) who presented to the sole British Field Hospital in Southern Iraq. Results: Eighty-two casualties presented with penetrating missile injuries from hostile action. Three subsequently died of wounds (DOW 3.7%). Forty-six (56.1%) casualties had their initial surgery performed by British military surgeons. Twenty casualties (24.4%) sustained gunshot wounds, 62 (75.6%) suffered injuries from fragmentation weapons. These 82 casualties were injured in 55 incidents (mean 1.49, range 1-1.6 casualties) and sustained a total 236 wounds (mean 2.88) affecting a mean 2.4 body regions per patient. IEDs were responsible for a mean 2.31 (range 1 - 4 casualties per incident. Conclusions: The current insurgency in Iraq illustrates the likely evolution of modern low intensity urban conflict. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) employed against both military and civilian targets have become the predominant cause of injury. With the current global threat from terrorist bombings, both military and civilian surgeons should be aware of the spectrum and emergent management of the injuries caused by these weapons.