title: Primary surgical treatment of war injuries of major joints of the limbs.
abstract: We present the results of primary surgical treatment of war injuries of major joints in 339 patients, wounded in the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the period June 1991-October 1995. The total number of surgically treated joints was 358. The injuries were inflicted by the fragments of explosive devices in 176 (51.9%) patients and by bullets in 125 (36.9%) patients. A single wound was present in 160 (47.2%) and several wounds in 176 (51.9%) patients; 276 (77.1%) patients had injuries of articular bone. The most frequently injured joints were knee joint 167 (46.6%) and elbow joint 72 (20.1%). Associated neurovascular injuries were present in 68 (18.9%) patients. Postoperative bone fragment stabilization was required in 254 (70.9%) joints. Stabilization was by plaster of Paris in 148 (58.2%) and external fixation in 85 (33.4%) patients. Postoperative course was uneventful in 262 (77.3%) while postoperative complications occurred in 77 (22.7%) patients. Amputations were performed in 15 (4.4%) patients. After the primary surgical treatment 254 (74.9%) patients were discharged and directed to rehabilitation or home care and 81 (23.9%) patients required additional reconstructive surgery for bone and soft tissue defects.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikolić
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jovanović
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Popović
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vulović
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mladenović
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000601:surgery; D014857:Warfare; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery; D015022:Yugoslavia; D000092464:Elbow Injuries