A Descriptive Analysis of Wounds Among U.S. Marines Treated at Second Echelon Facilities in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations
Abstract
Medical data from 120 U.S. Marines Corps trauma admissions to second echelon facilities during Operation Desert Shield/Storm were examined. Sixty- five percent of the admissions occurred between February 22 and February 28, the time frame corresponding to the ground war and the preliminary mobilization period. Penetrating wounds were the most prevalent type of injury, followed by lacerations, open fractures, and closed fractures. The most frequent anatomical regions sustaining injuries were the leg, head, hand, and arm, respectively. Shrapnel was the causative agent of 63% of the admissions that had this variable recorded while gunfire was the cause in 20% of the cases. The median injury-to- admission interval increased from 0.67 hours in the non-ground war period to 4. 41 during the ground war. U.S. Marines, Gulf War, Medical Battalion, Second Echelon Medical Facilities, Combat Casualties, Kuwait.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA256600
Entities
People
- Christopher G. Blood
- Craig S. Leedham
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center