Citation

Ritenour AE, Baskin TW. Crit. Care Med. 2008; 36(7 Suppl): S311-7.

Affiliation

Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/CCM.0b013e31817e2a8c

PMID

18594258

Abstract

BACKGROUND: : Injuries from combat and terrorist explosions are increasing worldwide. As such, physicians can expect to treat more patients with complex and unique patterns of injury produced not only by fragments and blunt trauma, but also by high-pressure air expanding from the detonation center. DISCUSSION: : Tissue damage from the blast wave or primary blast injury can be an important cause of occult trauma to the ocular, aural, pulmonary, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neurologic systems. Awareness of the extensive corporal effects of the blast wave is an essential prerequisite to diagnosis. SUMMARY: : This article focuses on the incidence, risk factors, diagnosis, management, and screening for primary blast injury.

Language: en