LAUSR

BACKGROUND The Afghanistan Surge saw NATO troops working with their Afghan partners to remove Taliban governance and replace it with a more democratic model. As part of this effort, medical support for both trauma and humanitarian cases was needed. OBJECTIVE Identify and discuss disease trends to better prepare for future combat medical care. METHODS Retrospective review of operative experience from a single neurosurgeon from November 2010 to April 2011. RESULTS 63 cases were performed in 20 NATO and 43 Afghan patients. Combat-related neurotrauma represented 73% (46/63) of cases, the majority of which were as a result of nonpenetrating injury (89%, 41/46). The most common area injured was the spine, accounting for 51% (21/41) of all nonpenetrating injuries. The majority of spine injuries occurred in NATO patients (61%, 13/21). The second most common area of nonpenetrating injury was the brain, occurring in 48% (20/41) of cases, primarily in Afghan troops (80%, 16/20). Overall, there were 2 deaths and 2 reoperations, for a complication rate of 8%. CONCLUSION Future combat missions relying on mounted patrols may benefit from an emphasis on the use of vehicle safety equipment to decrease the incidence of brain injury, along with in theater neurosurgery care offering spine stabilization.