Citation

Hall A, Evans K, Pribyl S. J. Surg. Educ. 2010; 67(2): 61-65.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, Keesler Medical Center, Keesler AFB, Mississippi.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Association of Program Directors in Surgery, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.02.003

PMID

20656600

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The war in Afghanistan represents the first large-scale conflict involving military troops in a cold, mountainous climate since the Korean War. An analysis was conducted to identify the extent of cold weather injuries, especially frostbite, in the deployed military population. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of military databases was conducted with tabulation of all cases of cold-weather injuries in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Casualties reviewed occurred between 2001 and 2009. SETTING: The 81st Medical Group at Keesler AFB. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 18,214 patients reported in the Joint Theater Trauma Registry (JTTR). RESULTS: Overall, 19 cases of cold-weather injury were identified in the Afghanistan Conflict. Two cases of frostbite were identified with only 1 likely requiring surgical intervention. No cases were identified in Iraq. CONCLUSION: The 19 cold-weather injuries represent a dramatic decrease from the 6300 cases of cold-weather injury reported in the last major cold-weather conflict, the Korean War. This decrease results from the shorter and weather-dependent engagements, cold-weather education, and improved equipment of United States and allied personnel.

Language: en