title: Traumatic noncombat-related hand injuries in U.S. troops in the combat zone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiology of traumatic, nonbattle, Combat Zone hand injuries has not been well explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective chart review of Emergency Department visits occurring at the Ibn Sina Hospital in Baghdad Iraq.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 24-month period from May 2007 to June 2009, 7,520 patients were seen at the Ibn Sina Hospital Emergency Department. Three hundred thirty-one cases met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-four cases were found to have required near-term evacuation from area of operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Traumatic, nonbattle hand injuries are common and appear to be a significant problem in the Combat Zone. Injuries occurring because of the closure of vehicle doors, hatches, and turrets make up a large portion of these injuries and represent an optimal area of intervention for possible injury mitigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center, 1 Jarrett White Road, Honolulu, HI 96859, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agyapong
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McArthur
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence; D055815:Young Adult