Incidence and methods of diagnosis of musculoskeletal injuries incurred in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
OBJECTIVE
The authors studied the incidence and distribution of orthopedic injuries sustained in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm by evaluating whether existing diagnostic imaging modalities were sufficient to diagnose the types of musculoskeletal injuries incurred. The authors also sought to determine if a dedicated extremity MR scanner would provide monetary benefits and enhance military readiness.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed data on all musculoskeletal injuries incurred in Desert Shield/Desert Storm to determine the total number of injuries, proportion of orthopedic injuries, number of soft-tissue orthopedic injuries, and the country where the diagnosis was established. The authors also determined the number of patients, duration, and economic impact of the evacuation process.


RESULTS
There were 1011 fractures and 1177 soft-tissue injuries; 408 soft-tissue injuries were diagnosed in the Persian Gulf countries, and 769 diagnosed in the United States and Germany. The average time to evacuate these 769 patients was 21 days with an estimated replacement cost of $836,885.


CONCLUSIONS
Musculoskeletal soft-tissue injuries comprised 34% of the overall injuries in the Persian Gulf War, and twice as many patients required evacuation for diagnosis as were diagnosed locally using existing imaging modalities. A dedicated extremity magnetic resonance scanner in the battlefield would obviate many evacuations and hence be of both monetary and military readiness benefit.
Truax
A L
AL
Department of Radiology, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas 78234-6200, USA.
Chandnani
V P
VP
Chacko
A K
AK
Gonzalez
D M
DM
D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D008889:Military Personnel; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare