Injuries from Antitank mines in Southern Croatia.

Objective: Antitank mines inflict devastating injuries that are usually fatal. The objective of this retrospective study was to analyze antitank mine casualties in South Croatia during the period from 1991 to 1995.

Methods: Mechanism, degree of injury according to Abbreviated Injury Scale and Injury Severity Score, as well as surgical treatment were analyzed.

Findings: Of 464 mine victims, 42 (9.0%) patients sustained antitank mine injuries, and 12 of these were fatal (29%). Abbreviated Injury Scale of the antitank mine injuries was 5.3 +/- 10.6. Military personnel were injured in 29 cases, and civilians were injured in 13 cases.

Conclusion: Although injuries from antitank mines were ravaging, and frequently fatal, a significant number of patients survived.