Antipersonnel mine injuries in Southern Croatia.
OBJECTIVE
In this retrospective study, antipersonnel mine casualties in Southern Croatia from 1991 to 1995 are analyzed and treatment options are discussed.


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


RESULTS
Of a 2,693 war trauma population, 422 (15.67%) patients sustained antipersonnel mine injuries, 241 (57.11%) from pressure mines and 181 (42.89%) from fragmentation mines. Military personnel were injured in 329 cases, civilians in 60 cases, and children in 33 cases. AIS was 3.01 +/- 0.56 and ISS was 17.92 +/- 6.59. Of 39 fatalities (9.24%) with a mean age of 27.98 +/- 1.70 years, 34 were soldiers, 4 were civilians, and 1 was a child. AIS was 5.35 +/- 0.39 and ISS was 54.94 +/- 2.36.


CONCLUSIONS
Fatalities and morbidity arising from antipersonnel mines can be reduced by the provision of appropriate surgical and evacuation facilities at the actual battlefield.
Radonić
Vedran
V
Department of Surgery, Clinical Hospital Split, Spin[caron]cićeva 1, 21 000 Split, Croatia.
Giunio
Lovel
L
Borić
Teo
T
Mimica
Zeljko
Z
Furlan
Dubravko
D
Definis-Gojanović
Marija
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005107:Explosions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014857:Warfare