Thermal Injuries in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom (OIF and OEF)

Abstract

Abstract : Since 2003, during military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 500 service members have sustained thermal injuries that met criteria for care at a burn center. Thermal injury is often related to explosions resulting from a number of different mechanisms or flames from an accidental fire. Many of the patients who sustained thermal injuries also sustained injuries including soft tissue wounds or fractures. A numbers of these patients were also diagnosed with inhalational injury related to the explosion and resultant fire. All of these casualties were transported to the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) Burn Center, at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX for definitive care. The work of a multi-disciplinary team at the Burn Center is focused on ensuring both acute and long-term care of the burn casualty.