Cold injury in the United States military population: current trends and comparison with past conflicts

Journal of Surgical Education
Andrew HallShea Pribyl

Abstract

The war in Afghanistan represents the first large-scale conflict involving military troops in a cold, mountainous climate since the Korean War. An analysis was conducted to identify the extent of cold weather injuries, especially frostbite, in the deployed military population. A retrospective analysis of military databases was conducted with tabulation of all cases of cold-weather injuries in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Casualties reviewed occurred between 2001 and 2009. The 81st Medical Group at Keesler AFB. A total of 18,214 patients reported in the Joint Theater Trauma Registry (JTTR). Overall, 19 cases of cold-weather injury were identified in the Afghanistan Conflict. Two cases of frostbite were identified with only 1 likely requiring surgical intervention. No cases were identified in Iraq. The 19 cold-weather injuries represent a dramatic decrease from the 6300 cases of cold-weather injury reported in the last major cold-weather conflict, the Korean War. This decrease results from the shorter and weather-dependent engagements, cold-weather education, and improved equipment of United States and allied personnel.

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Citations

Sep 19, 2012·Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock·Eric A Gross, Johanna C Moore
Jan 28, 2014·Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine·Helge BrändströmMichael F Haney
Feb 28, 2015·Military Medical Research·Hui-Shan Wang, Jin-Song Han
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Sep 7, 2018·Military Medicine·Andrew HallBooker King
Jan 22, 2021·Military Medical Research·Hong-Xu JinUNKNOWN Members of the Emergency Medicine Committee of the People’s Liberation Army

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