Explosions Are Main Cause of Spine Injuries in U.S. Soldiers
FRIDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Explosions are the main
cause of spine injuries among wounded U.S. military personnel, a
new study finds. Researchers analyzed more than eight years of
data on back, spinal column and spinal cord injuries suffered by
American military personnel serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Of
nearly 11,000 evacuated casualties, about 600 (nearly 5.5
percent) had a total of more than 2,100 spinal injuries.
Explosions accounted for 56 percent of spine injuries, motor
vehicle collisions for 29 percent and gunshots for 15 percent,
the study found. In 17 percent of spine injuries, the spinal
cord also was injured. Fifty-three percent of gunshot wounds to
the spine led to a spinal cord injury. The study also found that
92 percent of all injuries were fractures, 84 percent of
patients' wounds were the result of combat and spinal injuries
often were accompanied by abdomen, chest, head and face
injuries. The findings, published Sept. 1