ABSTRACT
The most common mechanisms of injury during recent conflicts have been blast injury and gunshot wounds. The anatomical distribution and incidence of wounds reflects the surface area, the type of conflict, the causative mechanism and any personal protective equipment (PPE) worn. Military planning must take into account the immediate surgical treatment and subsequent care and repatriation of significant numbers of casualties including young children, women and expectant mothers. Improvements in combat casualty care have resulted in a sustained improvement in survival. Head injury remains the most common cause of death in those with non-survivable injury. Traumatic injury can lead to disruption of any body tissue, resulting in abnormal function. As with all medical systems, military combat casualty care follows a chain of survival. Hemostatic resuscitation consists of two phases: fluid administration before and after control of bleeding. The aim is to restore tissue perfusion by replacement of blood volume, ensure optimal oxygen delivery by the replacement of red blood cells.
