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Cold injuries in Kashmir, December 1971.
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
|July 1, 1978
Summary
During the 1971 Indo-Pakistan conflict, 847 cold injury cases were managed using a drug combination and conservative tissue ablation. This approach yielded encouraging results for treating cold-related injuries.
Area of Science:
- Military Medicine
- Trauma Care
- Cold Injury Management
Background:
- The Indo-Pakistan conflict in Kashmir (December 1971) resulted in a high incidence of cold injuries.
- A significant number of casualties (847) required urgent medical attention due to environmental exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the management strategies and outcomes for cold injury cases during wartime.
- To evaluate the efficacy of a specific drug regimen and conservative surgical approach.
Main Methods:
- Treatment involved a combination therapy including low-molecular-weight dextran, an anti-inflammatory agent, and a vasodilator.
- A conservative approach was adopted regarding the ablation of necrosed (dead) tissues.
Main Results:
- The combined drug therapy showed encouraging results in managing cold injuries.
- Conservative management of necrosed tissues led to favorable outcomes, avoiding premature amputation.
Conclusions:
- A multimodal treatment strategy combining specific medications and conservative surgical care is effective for wartime cold injuries.
- Preserving affected tissues through conservative management can lead to better end results in cold injury cases.