Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm: neurosurgical experience and transformative legacy for operational medicine
Abstract
Operation Desert Storm (ODS) was an astounding success for combat arms and logistical units of the US Military. In contrast, Department of Defense (DOD) medical units struggled to keep pace with combat operations and were fortunate that casualty estimates for a Cold War–era battle failed to materialize. The medical support plan included a large contingent of active-duty and reserve neurosurgeons in anticipation of care requirements for more than 500,000 deploying service members engaged in a large-scale combat operation. Here, the authors review the clinical experience and operational challenges encountered by neurosurgeons deployed in support of this conflict and discuss legacies of ODS for both surgeons and the military medical system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.3171/2022.6.focus22237
Entities
People
- Benny Brandvold
- Chris J. Neal
- Geoffrey Ling
- James Ecklund
- Jonathan E. Martin
- Jordan Dean
- Richard G. Ellenbogen
- Ross R. Moquin
Organizations
- Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Inova Health System
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
- University of Connecticut
- University of Washington
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center