Profile of injuries in recent warfare

Abstract

BACKGROUND The epidemiology of French military severe trauma patients injured during recent military operations remains poorly described, even if French operations, casualties sustained, and care rendered in a different trauma system are distinct from others. This study aimed at describing the characteristics of these patients upon arrival at hospital in France and during hospital stay. METHODS This 5-year retrospective cohort study included all French military servicemen injured during military operations and admitted to the intensive care unit. Data on the characteristics upon arrival at the Percy hospital in France and during hospital stay were obtained from a national civilian trauma registry. RESULTS Of 1,990 military trauma patients injured in military operations, 39 were finally admitted to the intensive care unit of the Percy hospital and included in the analysis. Traumas were related to battle injuries and nonbattle injuries in 27 and 12 patients, respectively. Ninety-eight wounds were described: torso (n = 32), limbs (n = 32), head and neck (n = 25), and spine (n = 9). The mechanism of injury was explosion in 19 patients, gunshot wound in 8 patients, motor vehicular crash in 7 patients, or other mechanisms in 5 patients. The median Injury Severity Score was 25.5 (interquartile range, 14–34). CONCLUSION This study highlights the small number of military severe trauma patients injured in recent warfare and their characteristics. The use of dedicated systemic military trauma registries could improve the specific epidemiological knowledge on recent warfare and help better prepare for future conflicts that may include major engagements and large-scale combat operations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level V.