Combat and Noncombat Musculoskeletal Injuries in the US Military

Abstract

Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSKI) are exceedingly common in the US Military, resulting in compromised military medical readiness and a substantial burden on both health care and financial resources. Severe combat-related MSKI sustained during nearly 2 decades of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in frequently devastating injuries that challenge acute care capabilities, require extensive rehabilitation, and often result in long-term disability. Non-combat-related MSKI, while often less severe, are far more common than combat-related MSKI and overall cause a substantially greater number of lost duty days and nondeployable Service Members. Given the strain placed on health care and financial resources by MSKI, further efforts must be directed towards prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative strategies in order to mitigate the burden of MSKI in the US Military.