Plastic surgery and civilian casualties due to "terrorist" activities

Between 1975 and 1979, 511 injuries were caused by "terrorist" explosions in Jerusalem; 340 patients were treated at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The injuries were studied and analyzed. The Department of Plastic Surgery bore the brunt of the work, receiving over one-third of all admissions. More than half the hospitalization days went to plastic surgery patients. It seems that when there are large numbers of casualties due to explosions, the plastic surgery service should be enlarged immediately to cope with the large proportion of victims who will be referred to it.