Injuries from Antitank mines in Southern Croatia.
OBJECTIVE
Antitank mines inflict devastating injuries that are usually fatal. The objective of this retrospective study was to analyze antitank mine casualties in South Croatia during the period from 1991 to 1995.


METHODS
Mechanism, degree of injury according to Abbreviated Injury Scale and Injury Severity Score, as well as surgical treatment were analyzed.


RESULTS
Of 464 mine victims, 42 (9.0%) patients sustained antitank mine injuries, and 12 of these were fatal (29%). Abbreviated Injury Scale of the antitank mine injuries was 5.3 +/- 10.6. Military personnel were injured in 29 cases, and civilians were injured in 13 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Although injuries from antitank mines were ravaging, and frequently fatal, a significant number of patients survived.
Radonić
Vedran
V
Department of Surgery, Clinical Hospital Split, Spincićeva 1, 21 000 Split, Croatia.
Giunio
Lovel
L
Biocić
Mihovil
M
Tripković
Andro
A
Lukcić
Bruno
B
Primorac
Dragan
D
D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005107:Explosions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014857:Warfare