BRAIN WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT IN VII-CORPS DURING OPERATION DESERT-STORM, FEBRUARY 20 TO APRIL 15, 1991

Objective: To evaluate field neurosurgery supporting VII Corps during combat in Operation Desert Storm. Results: (1) Only 1 of 22 patients w ho had a head wound died. (2) The one computed tomography unit in a fo rward hospital worked veil, aiding diagnosis and surgical management. The occurrence of hematoma at a distance from the missile track has be en worrisome to past field neurosurgeons, but none of 9 patients who h ad predebridement scans had a distant clot. (3) The number of brain wo unds was fewer than expected for Americans, and the wounds were basila r in location. Iraqis, by contrast, had wounds that were randomly dist ributed about the head. Conclusions: (1) Although computed tomography is a useful diagnostic adjunct, its availability should not be a sine quo non for forward neurosurgery. [2] The current Kevlar helmet design appears successful.