Treatment of lower extremity injuries due to antipersonnel mines: blast resuscitation and victim assistance team experiences in Cambodia.
The two teams comprising the fiscal year 2001 Blast Resuscitation and Victim Assistance mission had the opportunity to learn from and practice mine injury treatment principles with experienced local and international war surgeons in Cambodia. Treatment principles were modifications of International Committee of the Red Cross recommendations. A total of 14 acute lower extremity mine injuries were treated. Surgery generally consisted of an open amputation or thorough irrigation and debridement using equipment readily available in any U.S. military field hospital. The surgical techniques will be described in detail. Delayed primary closure occurred 5 days later followed by prosthesis fitting (for amputees) in an International Committee of the Red Cross facility 12 weeks later. Other options and techniques will be discussed with an emphasis on applicability to U.S. military field surgery.
Parr
Reagan R
RR
Orthopaedic Surgery Service, Tripler Army Medical Center, 1 Jarrett White Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96859-5000, USA.
Providence
Bertram C
BC
Burkhalter
William E
WE
Smith
Allan C
AC
D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D002160:Cambodia; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008493:Medical Missions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012011:Red Cross; D012066:Relief Work; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare