CASE REPORTS
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Single Neurosurgeon Operative Experience at Craig Joint Theater Hospital During the Afghanistan Surge (November 2010 to April 2011), Part I: Neurotrauma Cases.

Military Medicine 2017 January
BACKGROUND: The Afghanistan Surge saw NATO troops working with their Afghan partners to remove Taliban governance and replace it with a more democratic model. As part of this effort, medical support for both trauma and humanitarian cases was needed.

OBJECTIVE: Identify and discuss disease trends to better prepare for future combat medical care.

METHODS: Retrospective review of operative experience from a single neurosurgeon from November 2010 to April 2011.

RESULTS: 63 cases were performed in 20 NATO and 43 Afghan patients. Combat-related neurotrauma represented 73% (46/63) of cases, the majority of which were as a result of nonpenetrating injury (89%, 41/46). The most common area injured was the spine, accounting for 51% (21/41) of all nonpenetrating injuries. The majority of spine injuries occurred in NATO patients (61%, 13/21). The second most common area of nonpenetrating injury was the brain, occurring in 48% (20/41) of cases, primarily in Afghan troops (80%, 16/20). Overall, there were 2 deaths and 2 reoperations, for a complication rate of 8%.

CONCLUSION: Future combat missions relying on mounted patrols may benefit from an emphasis on the use of vehicle safety equipment to decrease the incidence of brain injury, along with in theater neurosurgery care offering spine stabilization.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app