Analysis of ENT battle injuries in servicemen during the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus (1999–2002)

The analysis of 978 case histories of soldiers with combat ENT trauma during the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus (1999–2002) is provided. The criteria for the analysis of military medical characteristics were the quantity, nature and structure of sanitary losses. According to A.A. Gorokhov (2013), the proportion of soldiers with combat ENT trauma in the total sanitary losses was 7.5 % vs 8.6 % as per our study. 39.4 % of the victims were under the age of 21, 27.2 % – from 21 to 30 years, 25.8 % – from 31 to 40 years and 7.6 % – over 40 years. Gunshot wounds in the structure of combat ENT injuries were in 36.8 % of the victims, bruises – in 23.4 %, contusion – in 29.1%, the combined trauma – in 9.5 % and burns – in 1.2 % of the victims. Damage to the nose and paranasal sinuses comprised 45.4 %, neck – 22.8 %, of the outer ear and mastoid process – 32.8 %. Bruises and contusions (52.5 %) are milder injuries than gunshot wounds; hence, mild, moderate and severe injuries comprised 49.8 %, 39.4 and 10.8 %. It is logical to predict that the sanitary ENT losses during modern local conflicts will be generally less severe than during the Great Patriotic War and their treatment outcomes should be more favorable. Isolated ENT injuries were observed in 36.3 %, combined – in 63.7 %, among of them 16.3 % were multiple. Growth in combined ENT injuries in local wars is associated with increased use of mines and explosive devices and, as a result, with increasing frequency of shrapnel wounds of the head; that is why neurosurgical teams should be arranged at the first (zonal) level of specialist care. Analysis of the outcomes of hospital treatment in soldiers with combat ENT trauma showed that 92.7 % of the victims were returned to detachments without changing physical qualification, 6.8 %, were dismissed from the Armed Forces of Russia, and 0.5 % died.

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