Report
Limb Salvage and Recovery After Severe Blast Injury: Literature Review for the Eighth Department of Defense International State-of-the-Science Meeting on Blast Injury Research
Jul 6, 2020
A Review of the Scientific Literature
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Burns, a leading cause of fatality among military service members, are one of the most difficult injuries for which to care. Additionally, blast-related burn injuries are associated with infection, disability, mental illness, discharge from the military, and mortality. To identify areas that are understudied, RAND researchers conducted a comprehensive literature review and synthesis of the evidence surrounding blast-related burn injury.
The authors found sufficient information regarding treatment; however, there remains a need for additional research concerning prevention of blast-related burn injury. They also observed a lack of studies addressing prolonged field care for burns. Because U.S. military forces have expanded their scope and mission into more remote and rugged terrain, it is not always possible to immediately evacuate injured soldiers—and personnel exposed to burn injuries are at heightened risk of infection and complications. In this type of situation, burn injuries might need to be treated and managed in the field for an extended period of time. Therefore, strategic thinking and specific planning are necessary to develop, practice, and refine potential strategies to care for burns in prolonged field settings.
Chapter One
Background and Purpose
Chapter Two
Review Methodology
Chapter Three
Foundational and Etiological Research Results
Chapter Four
Epidemiology Results
Chapter Five
Prevention, Screening, and Diagnostic Research Results
Chapter Six
Treatment and Follow-Up Care Results
Chapter Seven
Military Policy and Health Services Research Results
Chapter Eight
Discussion and Preliminary Recommendations
Appendix A
Planning Committee Members
Appendix B
Search Terms and Results
This research was sponsored by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command and the DoD Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office and conducted within the Forces and Resources Policy Center of the RAND National Security Research Division.
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