Dismounted Blast Injuries in Patients Treated at a Role 3 Military Hospital in Afghanistan: Patterns of Injury and Mortality.

Background: The purposes of this study are to define the pattern of injuries sustained by dismounted troops exposed to improvised explosive devices blasts treated at a Role 3 combat support hospital and to assess injury patterns and mortality associated with the mechanism. Our hypothesis was that mortality is associated with pelvic fracture, massive transfusion, high Injury Severity Score (ISS), multiple limb amputations, and transfer from a Role 2 facility.

Study Design: Retrospective study of 457 patients.

Infection Rate of Intramedullary Nailing in Closed Fractures of the Femoral Diaphysis After Temporizing External Fixation in an Austere Environment.

Objectives: To determine the infection rate of intramedullary (IM) nailing of closed diaphyseal femur fractures after temporary stabilization with external fixation in an austere combat environment.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Iraq and Afghanistan Theater and Military Medical Treatment Centers in the United States and Landstuhl, Germany.