Evaluating the Military Medical Evacuation Chain: Need for Expeditious Evacuation Out of Theater?

Background: An important factor within the military medical logistical chain is the capability of expeditious evacuation from point of injury, through a Medical Treatment Facility, to the country of residence where highest level of care can be provided. Although many factors can relate to patient outcome, the evaluation of the medical evacuation chain related to long-term patient outcome can be important for investigating possibilities for performance improvement in this domain. This article aims to provide a means to evaluate the quality of care of the medical evacuation chain.

Review of military and civilian trauma registries: Does consensus matter?

Background: Structural collection of data from combat injuries is important to improve provided care and the outcome of (combat) casualties. Trauma registries are used in civilian and military health care systems for systematic administration of injury data. However, these registries often use different methods of data management, compromising international comparison of trauma systems.

Amputation: Not a failure for severe lower extremity combat injury.

Introduction: The use of improvised explosive devices is a frequent method of insurgents to inflict harm on deployed military personnel. Consequently, lower extremity injuries make up the majority of combat related trauma. The wounding pattern of an explosion is not often encountered in a civilian population and can lead to substantial disability.

Long-term impact of battle injuries; five-year follow-up of injured Dutch servicemen in Afghanistan 2006-2010.

Objectives: Units deployed to armed conflicts are at high risk for exposure to combat events. Many battle casualties (BCs) have been reported in the recent deployment to Afghanistan. The long-term impact of these combat injuries, at their five-year end point, is currently unknown.

Impact of explosive devices in modern armed conflicts: in-depth analysis of Dutch battle casualties in southern Afghanistan.

Background: The patterns and mechanisms of injuries of all Dutch battle casualties (BCs) were analyzed to improve the care for injured service members. We performed an in-depth analysis of all Dutch BCs during the participation of The Netherlands as lead nation in the International Security Assistance Force mission in southern Afghanistan.

Methods: Participants were selected from the trauma registry at the Dutch Role 2 Medical Treatment Facility if they met the criteria for Dutch BC between August 2006 and August 2010.

[Dutch military casualties of the war in Afghanistan--quality of life and level of participation after rehabilitation].

Objective: To describe the distribution of injuries and the quality of life and functioning at activity and participation level of rehabilitated Dutch military personnel who were wounded during the mission to Afghanistan.

Design: Retrospective, descriptive.

Method: The study population consisted of military war casualties who followed multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment for injuries sustained in combat in Afghanistan.