Orthopaedic injuries among survivors of USS COLE attack

The objective of this article is to describe the range of orthopaedic injuries and outcomes of acute treatment regimens among survivors of the USS COLE terrorist attack and to reemphasize basic treatment principles for blast injuries. With the current geopolitical environment, the average community orthopaedic surgeon may be involved in treating injuries due to an explosive terrorist attack. This is a retrospective review of a consecutive series of the 39 patients who were injured during the USS COLE attack on October 12, 2000, and were received at Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia, from the MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation) system. The 17 casualties from the attack were not included in this study. Data were retrospectively collected from patient charts for all patients who survived the USS COLE attack. The 39 patients who survived the USS COLE attack sustained 81 injuries. Fourteen patients sustained 32 orthopaedic injuries, of which 61% were lower extremity injuries. Of the 10 patients who required hospitalization, 6 had orthopaedic injuries (60%). Three of five open fractures (60%) became infected, and two of two (100%) open fracture wounds treated with primary closure in the initial setting were infected. Lower extremity orthopaedic injuries may predominate in a shipboard blast scenario. Even minor injuries require prolonged time before patients return to active duty. Complex wounds have high infection rates and should be treated according to previously established protocols for wartime injuries. Principles of provisional fracture stabilization prior to transport, adequate wound débridement, and delayed wound closure are reviewed.