title: The impact of genital trauma on wounded servicemen: qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent military operations in Afghanistan have resulted in considerable lower limb trauma. Associated with this trauma have been serious injuries to the genitalia. No previous study has looked at the effect of traumatic genital injury on the individual. This study expresses the impact of these injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative evaluation, interviewing 13 male patients with extensive genital injuries, including 11 patients with orchidectomies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients attach a very high importance to their genital injury, rating this injury as having more impact than lower limb amputations. They also have a high expectation for the recovery of sexual function. Psychological outcomes are better when an individual's future fertility is known at an early stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better outcomes are achieved for the patient when psychological and surgical support if provided throughout the long treatment and recovery process It is important that every effort is made to preserve fertility right from the point of injury.
authors.affiliation: Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, Surrey KT18 6JW, UK. Electronic address: lucasp@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, Surrey KT18 6JW, UK.
authors.forename: P R J
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Page
authors.affiliation: Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, Surrey KT18 6JW, UK.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Phillip
authors.affiliation: Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, Surrey KT18 6JW, UK; Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000523:psychology; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D009919:Orchiectomy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Afghanistan; Genital injury; Orchidectomy; Polytrauma