Surgical support for low-intensity conflict, limited warfare, and special operations

Abstract

Low-intensity conflicts and special operations present a wide range of injury scenarios for military and civilian surgeons alike. Harsh environments, difficult and high-risk missions, long lines of communication, and isolated locations are but some of the factors that create challenge in providing care for patients in this category. Often surgeons and other medical personnel are faced with many additional medical and nonmedical tasks outside their usual expertise because of the small number of support personnel and medical footprints brought forward in these missions.