Wounding Patterns for U.S. Marines and Sailors during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Major Combat Phase

TLDR

The study aimed to evaluate how each causative agent affected injury patterns, anatomical sites, injury types, and required medical specialists. The investigation examined 279 U.S. Navy‑Marine casualties from March–April 2003, categorizing their wounds by six causative agent groups: small arms, explosive munitions, motor vehicle accidents, falls, weaponry accidents, and other/unknown.

Abstract

This investigation examined the wounds incurred by 279 U.S. Navy-Marine personnel (97% Marines and 3% sailors) identified as wounded in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom, from March 23 through April 30, 2003. The goal was to assess the potential impact of each causative agent by comparing the differences in anatomical locations, types of injuries caused, and medical specialists needed to treat the casualties. The overall average number of diagnoses per patient was 2.2, and the overall average number of anatomical locations was 1.6. The causative agents were classified into six major categories, i.e., small arms, explosive munitions, motor vehicle accidents, falls, weaponry accidents, and other/unknown. Explosive munitions and small arms accounted for approximately three of four combat-related injuries. Upper and lower extremities accounted for ∼70% of all injuries, a percentage consistent for battlefield injuries since World War II.