This text is designed to present a comprehensive and state-of the-art approach to dismounted complex blast injuries. Sections address care of these patients from the point of injury through rehabilitation. The specific areas addressed include blast mechanics, stabilization and hemorrhage control at the point of injury, early resuscitation at local hospitals, a systematic approach to surgical care, and finally reconstruction and rehabilitation. Specific chapters focus on operative management of pelvic, abdominal, genitourinary, orthopedic, neurological and thoracic injuries. The authors of each chapter, are experts in treating DCBIs that have had direct hands-on experience through military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each chapter describes patient presentation and an algorithm outlining treatment with support from the literature. The text will conclude with three chapters. The first explores new advances in care that can be applied to these injuries. The second highlights the organization and team approach to care of these patients. Finally, the last chapter describes an actual case, cared for by the editors, that encompasses points from the chapters in the text. Extensive illustrations and flow diagrams are used throughout the text.
This text is specifically designed to be a “how to” guide for inexperienced military and civilian providers. The chapters are organized in a step-wise fashion that mirrors the patient’s course from point of injury through their hospital course. Combining authors’ experience with illustrations and algorithm diagrams creates a text that is easy to use as a reference text or basis of training for future military and civilian surgeons.
Joseph M. Galante, MD, FACS
CDR, MC USNR
Vice Chair for Education
Division Chief, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Trauma Medical Director
Associate Professor of Surgery
Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
University of California, Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, CA
Matthew Martin, MD, FACS
Trauma Medical Director
Madigan Army Medical Center
Fort Lewis, Washington
Director of Trauma Informatics
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
Portland, Oegon
Director of Trauma Informatics
Trauma and Emergency Surgery Service
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
Portland, Oregon
Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
Associate Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Services, Bethesda, MD
Wade Gordon MD
Chief of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service
Department of Surgery
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, MD
Carlos J. Rodriguez, DO, MBA, FACS
CAPT, MC, USN
Division Chief Trauma Surgery / Surgical Critical Care
Associate Professor of Surgery, USUHS
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
8901 Wisconsin Ave
Bethesda, MD 2
