Evaluation of the effects of explosions: A ten-year retrospective study

Explosions are not exclusive to battlefields; they also represent a global security concern that affects all societies worldwide. This study aims to elucidate the effects of injuries caused by explosions with multiple mechanisms, which clinicians may encounter at any time, particularly in the context of military personnel. Furthermore, the clinical characteristics of these injuries were examined.

A total of 7,865 patient files evaluated between 2008 and 2017 by the Forensic Medicine Department of Gülhane Medical Faculty, Health Sciences University, were subjected to retrospective review. The study encompassed a total of 906 cases presenting with blast injuries. Medical records and health reports of these cases were reviewed and analyzed in terms of age- and gender-specific incidence, military ranks, type of explosion, origin of explosion, wound types, affected body areas, and sequelae.

The findings of this study indicate that blast injuries predominantly affect young males, particularly those in the military. The most common etiological factor identified was terrorism. Blast injuries were found to occur most frequently in non-vehicular pedestrians and were primarily caused by improvised explosive devices and landmines. Blast injuries most commonly resulted in multiplesite injuries with a shrapnel effect and frequently required surgical intervention. Despite all treatments, 53.4% of explosion-related injuries resulted in long-term sequelae.

The results of this study demonstrate that explosion-related injuries present a significant and complex problem. Blasts affect multiple body systems and cause severe injuries. Understanding the impact of explosions on the human body can help develop strategies to minimize or possibly eliminate serious injuries, particularly in explosion incidents encountered by security forces.