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Updated: Aug 26, 2026
Evaluating Primary Blast Effects In Vitro
Published on: September 18, 2017
Pattern of blast injuries. A Systematic Review: Part 1-Improvised, multiple and unspecified explosive devices
Anne Neubert1,2, Max Seidelmann3, Catharina Gaeth3
1Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital and Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany. Anne.neubert@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
Purpose:
This systematic review aims to comprehensively identify and categorize the specific injury patterns associated with IEDs and other explosive devices across military and civilian populations to improve medical preparedness, resource planning strategies, and treatment approaches.
Methods:
A search on PubMed und Scopus was conducted on 26. March 2025 for observational studies reporting blast injuries in civilian and military populations of all ages. Studies were clustered by explosion type - Part 1 IED and multiple/unspecified explosives. A narrative data synthesis was performed. Reporting was assessed with the JBI tool for case series.
Prospero:
CRD42023391736.
Results:
33 studies with 4,373 victims (mainly military personnel) from 2002 - 2022 reported injuries caused by IEDs. The average age was 25.1 years. 97.2% were male. Injuries to the upper and lower extremities were predominant in all study populations followed by head injuries among military personnel, and thorax and abdomen injuries among civilians. 37 studies with 24,600 casualties (mean age 25.7, 85.8% males) were included in multiple/unspecified explosives. Extremities were predominant followed by facial injuries among military personnel, and thorax injuries among civilians.
Conclusion:
The first part of this systematic review on the pattern of blast injuries shows that injuries to the extremities, including amputations, are the leading injury pattern caused by explosions. The differences in the injured body regions between military personnel and civilians can probably be attributed to the availability or lack of protective equipment.
