WAR VICTIMS IN NEED OF PHYSICAL REHABILITATION IN CROATIA

A Rehabilitation Information System was created in July 1993 in order to register war victims in need of physical rehabilitation all over Cr oatia. The system is currently operating and presented data covers the period from July 1991 to July 1995. Approximately 15,000 questionnair es had been completed and returned from medical institutions on in tot al 8589 disabled war victims in need of rehabilitation. People with se vere disabilities comprised about 20% of all in need of rehabilitation . Those reported injured were 3.5 times more than those in need of phy sical rehabilitation. Most common types of injuries were fractures wit h a permanent disabling condition (3109 persons), peripheral nerve inj uries (1213 persons) and amputations (956 persons). Traumatic brain in juries were registered for 594 and spinal cord injuries for 262 person s. Causes of injuries were explosive devices (such as mines, mortar sh ell shrapnel, etc.) in 37% of cases, bullets in 22%, accidents in 7%, other (such as fire, blast injuries, etc.) and unknown causes in 34%.