Treatment of war injuries of the upper extremity during war in south-western Croatia
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology, treatment and incidence of complications among the patients with upper extremity war injury. Methods: In retrospective study, 123 patients with war injuries of the upper extremity have been analyzed. The results of treatment were assessed according to the rate of: complications, amputations, fracture healing and mortality. Results: Complications appeared in 17.9% of cases. Traumatic amputations were present in 19.4% of cases and in 2.4% of cases amputation was performed due to III C open fracture. Satisfactory bone healing was achieved in 49 of 55 patients available to follow up. Mortality rate was 2.4%. Conclusion: Self-inflicted injuries resulted in 41.6% amputation rate. High-energy war injuries of the upper extremity could be treated between 6 and 12 hours after injury without an increase in complication rate, compared to treatment up to 6 hours from injury. In selected cases primary reconstruction of war injury could be performed.
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