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A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
Mortality and morbidity from combat neck injury.
John Breeze1, Lucy S Allanson-Bailey, Nicholas C Hunt
1Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
|April 12, 2012
Summary
Combat neck injuries are common in UK forces, often caused by explosions. Wearing OSPREY neck collars could prevent deaths, but uptake is low, necessitating further evaluation of protective gear.
Area of Science:
- Military medicine
- Trauma surgery
- Injury prevention
Background:
- Neck injuries constitute a significant portion of UK combat casualties, higher than in US forces.
- Understanding causes of death and morbidity is crucial for improving neck protection strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine causes of death and long-term morbidity from combat neck injuries.
- To recommend new methods for protecting the neck in military personnel.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of hospital and postmortem records of UK servicemen with combat neck injuries (2006-2010).
Main Results:
- Neck wounds affected 10% of injured personnel, primarily from explosions (79%) with a 41% mortality rate.
- OSPREY neck collars, if worn, could have prevented 16 deaths, particularly protecting zones I and II.
- Vascular injury was the leading cause of death (85%) from explosive fragments, with zone II most affected but zone I having higher survivor morbidity.
Conclusions:
- Nape protectors for zone III are unlikely to prevent significant injuries.
- Current OSPREY neck collars offer potential protection for zones I and II, but non-usage by servicemen requires investigation.
- Wound mapping validates the need for improved neck protection designs, focusing on zones I and II.
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