THE SCUD MISSILE DISASTER IN AL-KHOBAR, SAUDI-ARABIA, 1991 - THE ORTHOPEDIC EXPERIENCE

The orthopaedic experience of the scud missile disaster in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia during the Gulf war is reviewed. This was by far the most severe of 70 scud attacks. The majority of casualties had 'orthopaedi c' injuries, fractures and soft tissue lacerations of the extremities and the back. Our experience confirmed the importance of the principle s of planning fringe beforehand and open wound treatment with secondar y suture. Repented ward rounds with reassessment of the patients prove d beneficial. The ready availability of hospital beds in high-risk sit uations of regional war highly facilitated the management of mass casu alties.