title: Blast and fragment injuries of the musculoskeletal system.
abstract: Blast and fragment injuries of the musculoskeletal system are the most frequently encountered wounds in modern warfare. Most injuries to the musculoskeletal system involve so-called secondary blast injuries in which casing fragments and other debris become flying projectiles. Nonoperative treatment of selected wounds caused by small-fragment debris has been successful but remains controversial. Successful surgical treatment depends on meticulous wound débridement, with excision of nonviable tissue and foreign material likely to cause infection; adequate drainage; and delayed closure. Advanced internal fixation techniques used in modern trauma centers to treat predominantly blunt trauma may not be appropriate for care of orthopaedic war wounds in a field setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, United States Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan. coveydc@oki10.med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Dana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Covey
mesh_terms: D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*