Resumen

NAVARRO SUAY, R. et al. Analysis of the injuring agent in the combat casualty: The Spanish Medical Service experience in Herat (Afghanistan). Sanid. Mil. [online]. 2011, vol.67, n.1, pp.18-24. ISSN 1887-8571.

Introduction: The medical officer's knowledge about armament-related aspects improves the diagnosis and medical care of the casualty. In this article the injuring agents in the main recent conflicts are presented. The objective of this study is the analysis of the injuring agent in the casualties received in the military hospital in Herat (Afghanistan) between 2005 and 2008. Materials and methods: A descriptive, transversal study was carried out including all civilian and military personnel wounded by firearms or explosive devices in the West Region of Afghanistan, and taken care of in the Spanish Role 2 in Herat (Afghanistan) during the years 2005-2008. Results: The total number of cases was 256. The majority of the patients were wounded by explosive devices, as the "Improvised Explosive Devices" (IEDs) (n = 183; 71%), while the rest suffered gunshot wounds (n = 73; 29%). Conclusions: In our study the predominant mechanism of injury has been the explosive one, followed by firearms. These data are similar to those quoted in other English language reports about combat casualties in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

Palabras clave : Low; Lethality; Casualty generation; Firearm; Explosive; War; Medical Service.

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