Follow-up study of 103 American soldiers who sustained a brain wound in Vietnam

Abstract

✓ The authors report a follow-up study of 103 American soldiers who were treated for brain wounds at one neurosurgical facility in Vietnam. The estimated mortality after evacuation from the war zone was 6% to 8%. Severe brain wounds, meningitis, and pulmonary emboli accounted for the majority of the late deaths. Thirty-four per cent had post-debridement complications such as retained bone fragments (16%), infection (15%), cerebrospinal fluid leaks or wound dehiscence (2%). Removal of retained intracerebral bone was associated with occasional complications but unquestionably prevented several late brain abscesses; only two patients in this series developed a late brain abscess. About half of those who were evacuated from Vietnam with retained intracerebral bone harbored fragments that were contaminated with bacteria.