title: The role of reconstructive surgery in the management of war wounds.
abstract: Reconstructive surgery can be used within a framework of management of war wounds by basic principles. It falls into three groups: i. Primary (emergency) reconstruction; performed as part of initial surgery and as a life-saving procedure. ii. Delayed primary (essential) reconstruction; performed at the time of delayed closure. iii. Elective or non-essential reconstruction. All surgeons involved with the early management of war wounds should be prepared to perform primary and delayed primary reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Medical Division, International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Coupland
mesh_terms: D004630:Emergencies; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D006801:Humans; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D014857:Warfare; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*