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Fixin' Healthcare

Monday, October 09, 2006

The Lifestyle Chronicles - Trauma Care

Major contributions to the care of trauma victims have come from military medicine. Much of the knowledge concerning stabilization of wounds, transport of the wounded and subsequent definitive treatment have come from the experience of the military.

The Pentagon reports that 20,687 of the U.S. military have been wounded in Iraq as of October 6th with 9,352 injured too seriously to return immediately to active duty. Legs and arms are especially vulnerable because they are not shielded by body armor.

Dr. Amy Wandel reported that the amputation rate in Iraq is 20 percent compared to 76 percent during the Vietnam War. The technology to reconstruct nerves, arteries and veins followed by closure of large soft tissue wounds have allowed bone healing and return of function.

Accidents and trauma injury will always be with us and many of them will be serious. These advances will save lives and preserve function.

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