Extraordinary military medical care of a pediatric patient with penetrating pelvic trauma: a case report.
Modern military medicine is an ever advancing field, capable of remarkable feats. We present the case of a 16-year-old Iraqi female with a single gunshot wound to the pelvis with extensive rectal injury who survived despite the odds. Using "damage control" techniques, this patient survived despite a reported 30% mortality associated with such wounds. During the course of her stay, she was cared for by a multidisciplinary team whose integrated efforts led to survival and complete closure of 2 of 3 wounds prior to discharge. The case demonstrates the success of modern military medical measures applied to a malnourished pediatric civilian in an austere environment. In addition to being noteworthy as an extraordinary case of survival, this case raises questions about the implications of practicing short-term modern medicine on a population that will have to be reintegrated into a primitive medical establishment, possibly before definitive care is complete.
Clark Health Clinic, Bldg 5-4256 Bastogne Drive Extension, Fort Bragg, NC 28310, USA.
Shari
S
Samms
Arthur
A
Wittich
Kenneth
K
Graf
D000293:Adolescent; D003125:Colostomy / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008020:Life Support Care; D008887:Military Medicine; D010388:Pelvis / Q000293:injuries*; D012007:Rectum / Q000293:injuries; D012447:Sacrum / Q000293:injuries; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*