Frequency and nature of complications and their outcomes in military personnel with extremities injures received in a counterterrorist operation

The treatment outcomes of 303 servicemen wounded in a limb during the counter-terrorist operation in Dagestan in 1999-2001 were analyzed and passed through the various stages of medical care. Of these, 75.8% were injured in the lower extremities, 24.2% in the upper. The most frequent complications in the treatment process were osteomyelitis - 21%, suppuration of soft tissues - 18.9%. When examining the wounded, the outcome of the treatment was the absence of a limb - 49.9%, contracture of the joints - 34%, ankylosis of the joints and skin scars preventing the wearing of military uniforms and footwear - 4.4%, false joints - 1.2%. Primary surgical treatment of wounds, performed in 79.9% of the wounded, is a key element in the prevention of wound complications. The least number of complications was observed at the stage of specialized medical care.

injuries to limbs, purulent-septic complications, osteomyelitis, joint damage, staged treatment, primary surgical treatment