A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF WOUNDS AMONG UNITED-STATES MARINES TREATED AT 2ND-ECHELON FACILITIES IN THE KUWAITI THEATER OF OPERATIONS

Medical data from 120 U.S. Marine Corps trauma admissions to second-ec helon facilities during Operation Desert Shield/Storm were examined. S ixty-five percent of the admissions occurred between February 22 and F ebruary 28, the time frame corresponding to the ground war and the pre liminary mobilization period. Penetrating wounds were the most prevale nt types of injury, followed by lacerations, open fractures, and close d fractures. The most frequent anatomical regions sustaining injuries were the leg, head, hand, and arm. Fragments were the causative agent of 63% of the admissions that had this variable recorded, while gunfir e was the cause in 20% of the cases. The median injury-to-admission in terval increased from 0.67 hours in the non-ground war period to 4.41 during the ground war.