PERSIAN-GULF-WAR AMPUTEES - INJURIES AND REHABILITATIVE NEEDS

This study describes the injuries, complications, functional limitatio ns, and rehabilitative needs of amputees managed at Walter Reed Army M edical Center during the Persian Gulf conflict (1991). Fourteen ampute es were treated sustaining 21 amputations with 18 lower-limb and 3 upp er-limb amputations. In six casualties there were multiple amputations . Battle injuries were the cause in 79%. Nerve injuries occurred in 79 %, phantom pain in 64%, and functional limitations (ambulation and act ivities of daily living [ADLs]) were present in all casualties. Contra ctures were noted in 86%. Skin traction for open wounds was lacking in all but one case. With comprehensive rehabilitation, all casualties a chieved independent ambulation, and 93% were independent in all ADLs a t discharge, with one below-knee amputee successfully returning to dut y. These findings highlight the need for education of military health care providers in skin traction techniques, and provision of multidisc iplinary rehabilitative care for these casualties.