The epidemiology of injuries sustained by Israeli troops during the unrest in the territories administered by Israel, 1987-89

Abstract

Information on 1,267 Israeli soldiers injured in the administered territories (West Bank and Gaza) between December 1987 and November 1989 as a result of the Palestinian unrest was retrieved by us. The cases were divided according to cause, body location and severity of the injury. Most of the injuries were caused by stones (62%), the head being the primary site of injury (50.3%). Although the majority of injuries were light (92.3%), there was a 1.1% fatality rate. Enforcement of orders requiring troops to use protective gear that is issued to them would reduce the number and severity of the injuries.