Warfighter Personal Protective Equipment and Combat Wounds
Michael J Klausner1, Jerome T McKay2, Vikhyat S Bebarta3
1University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, and CU Anschutz Center for COMBAT Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.
Medical Journal (Fort Sam Houston, Tex.)
|July 12, 2021
Summary
Warfighter injuries show extremities are most affected, despite helmet and body armor use. Less common PPE, like extremity and neck protection, was also least utilized, indicating a gap in battlefield trauma prevention.
Area of Science:
- Military Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is vital for warfighter safety, influencing battlefield trauma patterns.
- While PPE use has reduced overall trauma, specific data on PPE worn during injury events is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the types of PPE worn by US military casualties during medical encounters.
- To identify the most frequently injured body regions in relation to PPE usage.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Prehospital Trauma Registry (PHTR) from 2003-2019.
- Inclusion of US military casualties with documented PPE at the time of encounter.
- Linking PHTR data with the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DODTR) for outcome data.
Main Results:
- Extremities (21%), head/neck (16%), and thorax (16%) were the most seriously injured regions.
- Helmet (91%) and body armor (75-77%) were widely used, while extremity (21%) and neck (6%) protection were less common.
- A significant proportion of casualties (18%) experienced severe injuries (ISS >25).
Conclusions:
- Battlefield injuries disproportionately affect the extremities, head/neck, and thorax.
- Underutilization of PPE for extremities and neck suggests areas for improved force protection strategies.
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