Assessing the Health Effects of Blast Injuries and Embedded Metal Fragments
Abstract
The 'signature' wound of current and recent conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan is that incurred via contact with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other high kinetic energy weapons. Beyond the traumatic injury inflicted, health risks from wound contamination with toxic metals must be managed, even as risk from these contaminants is not fully known. To provide a scientific evidence base to refine the clinical management of these patients, a multidisciplinary approach using animal models and patient data will be used. A laboratory rat model system (Project 1) will provide bio-kinetic and toxicological data on a variety of military-relevant metals implanted in the rats. (Project 2) will identify biomarkers of early effect in tissues and body fluids of the implanted animals. Using an existing national VA Embedded Fragment Registry of such injured patients, (Project 3) will assess kidney injury--the presumed target of toxic metal exposure--and (Project 4) will assess pulmonary injury in these Veterans from both systemic metal absorption and presumed blast-induced-baro-trauma at the time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1162374
Entities
People
- Joanna Gaitens
- Melissa Mcdiarmid
- Stella Hines
Organizations
- University of Maryland, Baltimore