Evolution of orthopaedic reconstructive care

Abstract

The patterns and severity of injury sustained by service members have continuously evolved over the past 10 years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 2010 surge of combat troops into Afghanistan, combined with a transition to counterinsurgency tactics with an emphasis on dismounted operations, resulted in increased exposure of US service members to improvised explosive devices and a new pattern of injury termed dismounted complex blast injury. This constellation of injuries typically includes multiple extremity injuries, high bilateral transfemoral amputations, amputated or mangled upper extremities, open pelvis fractures, and injury to the perineal and/or genital regions. These polytraumatized patients frequently present with head, abdominal, and genitourinary injuries, as well. Traditional methods of reconstruction must be optimized because tissue availability may be limited.