Army Ranger casualty, attrition, and surgery rates for airborne operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Introduction: Although numerous articles have been published documenting parachute injuries, a search of the medical literature revealed none that detail casualty, attrition, and surgery rates for airborne operations conducted into actual combat. This study examines observed airborne casualty, attrition, and surgery rates in U.S.

A novel pain management strategy for combat casualty care.

Study Objective: Pain control in trauma patients should be an integral part of the continuum of care, beginning at the scene with out-of-hospital trauma management, sustained through the evacuation process, and optimized during hospitalization. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a novel application of a pain control medication, currently indicated for the management of chronic and breakthrough cancer pain, in the reduction of acute pain for wounded Special Operations soldiers in an austere combat environment.

Methods: Doses (1,600 microg) of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate were administered by medical personnel during missions executed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 3, 2003, to May 3, 2003.