title: Operation Enduring Freedom: trends in combat casualty care by forward surgical teams deployed to Afghanistan.
abstract: This study examined the clinical experience of a U.S. Army Forward Surgical Team (FST) deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 and compared the findings with those of 3 previously deployed FSTs. Medical records of all patients evaluated by the FST were abstracted for analysis. Demographically, the cohort (n = 614) was predominantly male (94%), with a median age of 24, and distributed according to the following: disease (8.6%), nonbattle injury (42%), and battle injury (49%). Combat casualties were mostly Afghan National Army or Police (56%) and U.S. military (21%). Predominant wounding instruments were small arms (34%), improvised explosive devices (33%), and rocket-propelled grenades (15%). Anatomical sites of battle injury were extremities (38%), external soft tissue (35%), and head/neck/torso (28%). Operative procedures for combat injury (n = 227) were primarily orthopedic (45%) or thoracic/abdominal (36%). Combat casualty statistics provide insight to trauma epidemiology, patterns, and trends vital for surgical management. Workload statistics guides the structuring, training, and employment of FSTs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Investigation, Brooke Army Medical Center, ATTN: MCHE-CI, 3400 Rawley E. Chambers Avenue, Suite A, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6315, USA.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen-Gunther
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuhens
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jarrard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult