POST GULF-WAR EXPLOSIVE INJURIES IN LIBERATED KUWAIT

We collected the statistics of the victims affected by explosive injur ies in liberated Kuwait during the period March to December 1991. Incl uded were 1679 patients treated at nine different hospitals in Kuwait. As members of a trauma team, we, the plastic surgeons, were involved in the care of 152 victims of explosive injuries admitted at Al-Razi O rthopaedic Hospital. The records of these patients were reviewed in de tail and the results were analysed. Of the patients, 58 had penetratin g wounds and 94 explosive blast wounds. In all, 69 patients (45.3 per cent) were found to have associated fractures, 8 (5.3 per cent) had va scular injuries and in 10 (6.5 per cent) a nerve was also involved. Th ere were 41 patients (26.9 per cent) who required amputations. The mai nstay of surgical treatment was adequate wound excision, skeletal fixa tion and soft tissue coverage. Split-skin grafts were used in 34 patie nts, local flaps in seven and free flaps in four. Most patients healed within 2-3 weeks. There were 10 patients with explosive blast wounds who developed infection and needed staged wound excision before provid ing final coverage.