Severe and penetrating traumatic brain injury in the context of war.
Our data suggests that traumatic brain injury (TBI) may account for up to one third of battle-related injuries in today's war. Although the majority of these injuries are classified as mild in severity, service members with severe or penetrating TBI can be faced with many challenges. Injuries sustained on the battlefield require a slightly different approach than the TBI care that is traditionally seen in a civilian setting. This article presents the range of care that occurs beginning on the battlefield and continuing to state-of-the-art rehabilitation within the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs Polytrauma System of Care.
Meyer
Kimberly
K
Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, Washington, DC, USA. kimberly.Meyer@amedd.army.mil
Helmick
Kathy
K
Doncevic
Selina
S
Park
Rachel
R
D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015984:Causality; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005544:Forecasting; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008888:Military Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D008889:Military Personnel; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D014194:Traumatology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014857:Warfare