Our experience with 2693 wounded treated at the Split University Hospital during the 1991-1995 period

The authors' personal experience of 2693 wounded treated at the Split University Hospital during the 1991-1995 period is described and compared with the results reported from other recent wars worldwide. Explosive wounds were more frequent than gunshot wounds (N=1490; 55.3% vs N=988; 36.7%), and wounds due to other factors were observed in 215 (8.0%) patients. There were 2494 (92.6%) men and 99 (7.4%) women. A total of 1815 (67.4%) patients were operated on in field war hospitals, and 878 (32.6%) at the Split University Hospital. Recovery and discharge were achieved in 1527 (56.7%) and improvement with the treatment or rehabilitation continued at other institutions in 850 (31.6%) patients. In 240 (8.9%) patients, no definite opinion can yet be given. A lethal outcome was recorded in 76 (2.8%) patients. Rapid transportation from the site of wounding to medical teams was found to be of paramount importance for successful treatment. These teams were placed in field war hospitals placed as close as possible (5-15 km) to the frontline.