ABSTRACT
This study aimed to analyze upper-extremity combat-related injuries (CRIs) and non-combat-related injuries (NCRIs) treated in the French Forward Surgical Team currently deployed in Gao, Mali. A retrospective study was conducted using the French Military Health Service OpEX surgical database from February 2013 to March 2020. All patients operated on for upper-extremity injury were included: 224 patients, with a mean age of 28.15 years, for 249 upper-extremity injuries. Seventy-six (33.9%) sustained CRIs and 148 (66.1%) NCRIs. Multiple upper-extremity injuries and associated injuries were significantly more common in the CRI group. The majority of NCRIs involved the hand. Debridement and wound care was the most common procedure in both groups. External fixation and fasciotomy were significantly more frequent in the CRI group, and internal fracture fixation in the NCRI group. The overall number of procedures was significantly higher in the CRI group. Due to the high frequency of upper-extremity injury in current theaters of operations, deployed orthopedic surgeons should be trained in basic hand surgery so as to optimally manage both CRIs and NCRIs.
Subject(s)
Arm Injuries , Warfare , Adult , Arm Injuries/surgery , Humans , Mali/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Upper Extremity/injuries , Upper Extremity/surgeryABSTRACT
Negative pressure therapy (NPT) is widely used in developed countries where it a technique of choice in the management of wound healing on extremities. Because of the cost, the specific ressources necessary forNPT are scarce in austere environments. This report describes a simple, economical alternative technique using a "breathing bandage" that can be made from from widely used surgical products.
