A modified passive-dynamic ankle-foot orthosis: can it prevent amputation and arthrodesis in patients with ankle-foot trauma?

Introduction: High-energy lower extremity trauma (HELET) may cause severe damage within the foot-ankle complex. Occasionally, arthrodesis or amputation are the only remaining options to increase activity levels. The modified passive dynamic ankle-foot orthosis (PDAFO) may prove to be a nonsurgical alternative.

Postdeployment reintegration attitude of injured Dutch service members: a longitudinal study.

Objective: After deployment, service members can experience difficulties reintegrating. Sustaining injuries on the battlefield can disrupt the reintegration period. The first aim was to follow-up the reintegration attitude towards family, work and on a personal level after deployment in Dutch battlefield casualties (BCs).

A longitudinal study of health related quality of life and functioning in severely injured Dutch service members.

Background: Optimal health is demanded for service members in military operations. However, the strains of deployment can result in a deterioration, moreover when combat-related injuries are sustained, affecting level of participation and health related quality of life (HRQOL). Secondary health conditions may occur in time, however existing studies measure coping, level of activity and participation and HRQOL at one point in time.

Coping strategies of Dutch servicemembers after deployment.

Background: This study examines the relationship between coping strategies and symptoms of anxiety or depression among Dutch servicemembers deployed to Afghanistan.

Methods: Coping strategies were assessed in 33 battlefield casualties (BCs) and the control group (CTRLs) of 33 uninjured servicemembers from the same combat units using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. A factor analysis was performed, and two clusters of coping strategies were derived, namely, adaptive and maladaptive coping.

Combat-related foot injuries: impact on gait and functional outcome.

Introduction: Prior to deployment of the Netherlands Army Task Force Urozgan in Afghanistan, the Dutch Military and civilian healthcare systems had limited experience in treating blast injuries and their long-term consequences. This meant that guidelines for treatment and rehabilitation were lacking. The aim of this cohort study was to quantify kinematic and kinetic abnormalities in service members with foot injuries in relation to functional outcome using gait analysis.

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.

[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.

Alpha-synuclein expression in the developing human brain.

Alpha (alpha)-synuclein is a presynaptic protein, abnormal expression of which has been associated with neurodegenerative and neoplastic diseases. It is abundant in the developing vertebrate central nervous system (CNS), but less is known about its developmental expression in the human CNS. Immunohistochemical expression of alpha-synuclein was studied in 39 fetal, perinatal, pediatric, and adolescent brains.