Journal of Surgical Education
Volume 67, Issue 2 , Pages 61-65, March 2010

Cold Injury in the United States Military Population: Current Trends and Comparison with Past Conflicts

  • Andrew Hall, MD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence: Inquiries to Andrew Hall, MD, Department of Surgery, Keesler Medical Center, 301 Fisher Street, Keesler AFB, MS 39534; fax: +228-376-0128
    • ,
  • Kendrix Evans, MD
    • ,
  • Shea Pribyl, DO

Department of Surgery, Keesler Medical Center, Keesler AFB, Mississippi

Objective

The war in Afghanistan represents the first large-scale conflict involving military troops in a cold, mountainous climate since the Korean War. An analysis was conducted to identify the extent of cold weather injuries, especially frostbite, in the deployed military population.

Design

A retrospective analysis of military databases was conducted with tabulation of all cases of cold-weather injuries in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Casualties reviewed occurred between 2001 and 2009.

Setting

The 81st Medical Group at Keesler AFB.

Participants

A total of 18,214 patients reported in the Joint Theater Trauma Registry (JTTR).

Results

Overall, 19 cases of cold-weather injury were identified in the Afghanistan Conflict. Two cases of frostbite were identified with only 1 likely requiring surgical intervention. No cases were identified in Iraq.

Conclusion

The 19 cold-weather injuries represent a dramatic decrease from the 6300 cases of cold-weather injury reported in the last major cold-weather conflict, the Korean War. This decrease results from the shorter and weather-dependent engagements, cold-weather education, and improved equipment of United States and allied personnel.

Key Words: frostbite, cold injury, Afghanistan, military

Competency: Medical Knowledge, Patient Care, Professionalism

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 The opinions and/or assertions contained herein are solely those of the authors and should not be construed as reflecting those of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or government.

PII: S1931-7204(10)00031-0

doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.02.003

Journal of Surgical Education
Volume 67, Issue 2 , Pages 61-65, March 2010

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