U.S. Army Research Reveals Trends in American Combat Injuries During Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- An abstract presented today at the American College of Surgeons annual Clinical Congress provided a comprehensive look at all combat wounds in Iraq and Afghanistan during 2005 – 2009. The research showed that 0.4 percent of the almost two million service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during this time period were injured, according to data from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research's Joint Theater Trauma Registry (JTTR). The abstract data reveals the percentage of combat casualties resulting from explosive mechanisms continues to increase.

The JTTR, a prospective database established in 2004 in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, houses demographic and diagnostic medical treatment information on all combat-wounded patients treated at U.S. military medical facilities within the theatre of operations.

"Having JTTR data available to analyze not only provides a historical record of the evolving nature of the conflicts, but also helps shape Army Medicine's response and highlights future areas for study," said Capt. Brendan J. McCriskin, M.D., one of the study's authors and an Army resident in the orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation department at William Beaumont Army Medical Center/Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso.

Of the 1,992,232 military service members deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, 29,624 distinct combat wounds were identified in 7,877 combat casualties. The combat casualty cohort was predominantly junior enlisted males in the Army with an average age of 26.

Lt. Col. Philip J. Belmont Jr., M.D., Capt. Ryan Sieg, M.D., Col. Robert Burks, M.D. and Maj. Andrew J. Schoenfeld, M.D., also participated in the study.

About the U.S. Army Medical Department

One of the largest health care networks in the world, Army Health Care offers more than 90 professional health care career paths – more than any other military service. The U.S. Army's F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program is one of the most comprehensive health scholarships available today, and covers the complete cost of tuition, school fees and books, a monthly stipend of more than $2,000, as well as a $20,000 signing bonus for select areas of practice. Practicing physicians and health professionals can join the Army Reserve at any time in their career – up to age 60. For more information, visit www.healthcare.goarmy.com.

SOURCE U.S. Army Medical Department

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