Abstract
With technological improvements in body armour and increasing use of improvised explosive devices, it is the injuries to head, face and neck are the cause for maximum fatalities as military personnel are surviving wounds that would have otherwise been fatal. The priorities of battlefield surgical treatment are to save life, eyesight and limbs and then to give the best functional and aesthetic outcome for other wounds. Modern day battlefields pose unique demands on the deployed surgical teams and management of head and neck wounds demands multispecialty approach. Optimal result will depend on teamwork of head and neck trauma management team, which should also include otolaryngologist. Data collected by various deployed HFN surgical teams is studied and quoted in the article to give factual figures. Otorhinolaryngology becomes a crucial sub-speciality in the care of the injured and military otorhinolaryngologists need to be trained and deployed accordingly. The otolaryngologist’s clinical knowledge base and surgical domain allows the ENT surgeon to uniquely contribute in response to mass casualty incident. Military planners need to recognize the felt need and respond by deploying teams of specialist head and neck surgeons which should also include otorhinolaryngologists.
References
Breeze J, Gibbons AJ, Shieff C, Banfield G et al (2011) Combat-related craniofacial and cervical injuries: A 5-year review from the British military. J Trauma 71:108–113
Brennan J (2006) Experience of first deployed otolaryngology team in Operation Iraqi Freedom: the changing face of combat injuries. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 134(1):100–105
Powers DB (2010) Distribution of civilian and military maxillofacial surgical procedures performed in an Air Force theatre hospital: implications for training and readiness. J R Army Med Corps 156(2):117–121
Xydakis MS, FravelI MD, Casler JD (2005) Analysis of battlefield head and neck injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 133:497–504
Reed BE, Hale RG (2010) Training Australian military health care personnel in the primary care of maxillofacial wounds from improvised explosive devices. J R Army Med Corps 156(2):117–121
Will MJ, Goksel T, Stone CG, Doherty MJ (2005) Oral and maxillofacial injuries experienced in support of Operation Iraqi freedom I and II. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am 17:331–339
Lopez MA, Arnholt JL (2007) Safety of definitive in-theater repair of facial fractures. Arch Facial Plast Surg 9(6):400–405
Brennan J, Gibbons MD, Lopez M et al (2011) Traumatic airway management in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 144(3):376–380
Brennan J, Lopez M, Gibbons M et al (2010) Penetrating neck trauma in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 143:P51
Breeze J (2010) The problems of protecting the neck from combat wounds. J R Army Med Corps 156(3):137–138
Breeze J, Bryant D (2009) Current concepts in the epidemiology and management of battlefield head, face and neck trauma. J R Army Med Corps 155(4):274–278
Berkowitz G (2007) Otolaryngologists on the Front Lines. ENT Today May:12–14
Chandler CW (2006) Blast-related ear injury in current U.S. military operations: role of audiology on the interdisciplinary team. ASHA Lead 11:8–9
Yilmazlar S, Arslan E, Kocaeli H, Dogan S, Aksoy K, Korfali E (2006) Cerebrospinal fluid leakage complicating skull base fractures: analysis of 81 cases. Neurosurg Rev 29(1):64
Davis RE, Telischi FF (2000) Traumatic facial nerve injuries: review of diagnosis and treatment. Skull Base Surg 10(1):17–27
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rajguru, R. Role of ENT Surgeon in Managing Battle Trauma During Deployment. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 65, 89–94 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-012-0598-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-012-0598-2