title: Primary wound closure in war amputations of the limbs.
abstract: We have reviewed 75 amputees, 58 in the lower limb and 18 in the upper. Closed amputation was performed in 69 patients (92%) and an open procedure in six (8%). Wound infection occurred in six (8%) and one patient died from thromboembolism. Wound healing was normal in the remainder. The results of closed amputation in war conditions are very good, if performed within 6 hours of injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Split Clinical Hospital, Croatia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maricević
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erceg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gekić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D001132:Arm; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005107:Explosions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014857:Warfare; D014945:Wound Healing