Rehabilitation of landmine victims--the ultimate challenge.
Antipersonnel landmines are often used indiscriminately and frequently result in injury or death of non-combatants. In the last 65 years, over 110 million mines have been spread throughout the world into an estimated 70 countries. Landmine victims use a disproportionately high amount of medical resources; the vast majority of incidents occur in regions and countries without a sophisticated medical infrastructure and with limited resources, where rehabilitation is difficult in the best of circumstances. It is suggested that only a quarter of the patients with amputation secondary to landmines receive appropriate care.
Walsh
Nicolas E
NE
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, South Texas Veterans Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA. walshn@uthscsa.edu
Walsh
Wendy S
WS
D000328:Adult; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans