Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Arnim-Ellissen, S.
SURGICAL CARE FOR INJURIES CAUSED BY LANDMINES AND IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2017. pp.
[OPEN ACCESS]
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Puchwein Paul
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- BACKGROUND: Anti-personnel landmines and improvised explosive devices (IED) kill and injure more than 3,500 people each year. Recent developments in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq led to an increased relevance of IED injuries in modern war surgery. The surgical care for those injured by landmines and IEDs is provided by civilian, humanitarian and military medical facilities. METHODS: 65 publications by civilian and military medical facilities and a handbook for war surgery from a humanitarian organisation were reviewed in a meta-analysis. Key aspects of surgical care, agreed upon by civilian, humanitarian and military authors, were analysed. RESULTS: The majority of landmine and IED victims sustain pattern I injuries leading to a high percentage of lower limb injuries and traumatic amputations. Traumatic amputations of the lower leg and injuries to the genitourinary or pelvi-perineal region are more frequent in recent years due to high amounts of explosives. Landmine and IED injuries consume more resources than other war wounds. CONCLUSION: Key aspects of the successful surgical management for landmine and IED injuries are aggressive debridement, copious irrigation, early antibiotic treatment and early haemorrhagic control in civilian, humanitarian and military medical publications alike.