A decade in the battlefield (2004-2014): A French military perspective on the high mortality associated with non-exclusively orthopedic or brain combat injuries.

BACKGROUND: During the last few decades, French armed forces have regularly deployed in asymmetric conflicts. Surgical support for casualties of these conflicts occurs in NATO role 2 and 3 medical treatment facilities (MTF); definitive surgical care occurs in France following a strategic medical evacuation. The aim of this study was to describe the combat injury profile of these soldiers who presented with either non-exclusively orthopedic and/or brain injuries. METHODS: This descriptive study is a retrospective analysis of the surgical management of French casualties performed in role 2 or 3 MTF in Afghanistan, Mali, Niger, Djibouti and the Central African Republic between January 2004 and December 2014. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included. Forty had fragment wounds. The most severe lesions were of the head, neck or thorax. The average injury severity score (ISS) was 34.9 (IC 95% 29.8-40). 17 damage control procedures were performed. Thirty patients died with a mean ISS of 61 (IC 95% 56-67); 5 deaths were considered as preventable. The most frequent surgical procedures in the MTF were digestive (n=31) and thoracic surgery (n=19). Thirty patients needed second-look surgery in France; eleven had severe complications. No patient died following medical evacuation to France. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study indicated that the mortality following non-exclusively brain or orthopedic injuries remains high in modern asymmetric conflicts. Level of Evidence IV.

French civilian surgical expertise still inadequately prepared for mass casualties 3 years after major terror attacks in Paris (2015) and Nice (2016).

BACKGROUND: Three years after the terror attacks in Paris and Nice, this study aims to determine the level of interest, the technical skills and level of surgical activity in exsanguinating trauma care for a nonselected population of practicing French surgeons. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent between July and December 2017 to French students and practicing surgeons, using the French Surgical Colleges' mailing lists. Items analyzed included education, training, interest and clinical activity in trauma care and damage-control surgery (DCS). RESULTS: 622 questionnaires were analyzed and was composed of 318 (51%) certificated surgeons, of whom 56% worked in university teaching hospitals and 47% in Level I trauma centers (TC1); 44% were digestive surgeons and 7% were military surgeons. The mean score of 'interest in trauma care' was 8/10. Factors associated with a higher score were being a resident doctor (p = 0.01), a digestive surgeon (p = 0.0013), in the military (p = 1,71 × 10) and working in TC1 (p = 0.034). The mean "DCS techniques knowledge" score was 6.2/10 and factors significantly associated with a higher score were being a digestive surgeon (respectively, p = 0.0007 and p = 0.001) and in the military (respectively p = 1.74 × 10 and p = 3.94 × 10). Reported clinical activity in trauma and DCS were low. Additional continuing surgical education courses in trauma were completed by 23% of surgeons. CONCLUSION: French surgeons surveyed showed considerable interest in trauma care and treatment. Despite this, and regardless of surgical speciality, their theoretical and practical knowledge of necessary DCS skills remain inadequate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Study Type Survey.