A novel forward-deployed damage control orthopedics: Battlefield Monitoring and Stabilization (BMS)

Delayed evacuation creates a critical gap between point-of-injury care and definitive surgical management in battlefield trauma. Although Damage Control Orthopedics (DCO) is an established strategy for physiologically unstable trauma patients, it is usually implemented after evacuation and depends on higher-level medical support. We propose Battlefield Monitoring and Stabilization (BMS) as a forward-deployed conceptual framework for earlier battlefield care. BMS emphasizes temporary stabilization, hemorrhage-oriented intervention, basic physiological support, and portable monitoring before evacuation and definitive treatment. Proposed applications include point-of-injury stabilization, prolonged field care, and en-route casualty management. Several enabling components, including a rapidly assembled pelvic stabilization device, are under development. Relevant evaluation domains include fixation speed, hemostatic performance, monitoring accuracy, portability, and environmental adaptability. Further validation is warranted.