Combat Casualties in Afghanistan Cared for by a Single Forward Surgical Team during the Initial Phases of Operation Enduring Freedom
Abstract
Background: The 274th Forward Surgical Team (FST) was the first FST deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, to provide surgical care for combat casualties during the initial phases of Operation Enduring Freedom. This is an analysis of the distribution, cause, and severity of wounds for combat casualties and the surgical procedures they required. Methods: A prospective database was maintained for combat casualties cared for by the 274th FST. The database included demographic data, vital status, mechanism of injury, distribution and severity of wounds, and surgical care provided. Results: The FST cared for 224 combat casualties, including 153 U.S. soldiers, 19 coalition soldiers, 32 Afghan militia forces soldiers, and 20 detainees. Fragments were the most common mechanism of injury (49%), and the extremity was the most common location of injury (58%), whereas gunshot wounds were the most common cause of death (57%). There were few significant head, chest, or abdominal wounds (13%). The FST treated 103 surgical cases (73 with combat wounds), including neurosurgical, thoracic, general, orthopedic, and vascular cases, with a total of 180 procedures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA480406
Entities
People
- Brian Burlingame
- George E. Peoples
- Robert A Craig
- Tad Gerlinger
Organizations
- 274th Forward Surgical Team