title: Modern military surgery: lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan.
abstract: The types of explosive devices used in warfare and the pattern of war wounds have changed in recent years. There has, for instance, been a considerable increase in high amputation of the lower limb and unsalvageable leg injuries combined with pelvic trauma. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan prompted the Department of Military Surgery and Trauma in the United Kingdom to establish working groups to promote the development of best practice and act as a focus for research. In this review, we present lessons learnt in the initial care of military personnel sustaining major orthopaedic trauma in the Middle East.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham Research Park, Vincent Drive, Birmingham B15 2SQ, UK. katevbrown@aol.com
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Guthrie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kendrew
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clasper
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D008889:Military Personnel; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000293:injuries; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*