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Title: | The Libyan civil conflict : selected case series of orthopaedic trauma managed in Malta in 2014 |
Authors: | Ng, Colin Mifsud, Max Borg, Joseph N. Mizzi, Colin |
Keywords: | Civil war -- Libya Orthopedics -- Libya Orthopedics -- Malta Surgery, Military Surgical emergencies War wounds Emergency medicine Libya -- History -- Civil War, 2011 War wounds -- Treatment Explosions -- Physiological effect Soldiers -- Wounds and injuries Post-traumatic stress disorder |
Issue Date: | 2015 |
Publisher: | BioMed Central Ltd. |
Citation: | Ng, C., Mifsud, M., Borg, J. N., & Mizzi, C. (2015). The Libyan civil conflict: selected case series of orthopaedic trauma managed in Malta in 2014. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, 23(1), 103. |
Abstract: | Aim: The purpose of this series of cases was to analyse our management of orthopaedic trauma casualties in the
Libyan civil war crisis in the European summer of 2014. We looked at both damage control orthopaedics and for
case variety of war trauma at a civilian hospital. Due to our geographical proximity to Libya, Malta was the closest
European tertiary referral centre. Having only one Level 1 trauma care hospital in our country, our Trauma and
Orthopaedics department played a pivotal role in the management of Libyan battlefield injuries. Our aims were to
assess acute outcomes and short term mortality of surgery within the perspective of a damage control orthopaedic
strategy whereby aggressive wound management, early fixation using relative stability principles, antibiotic cover
with adequate soft tissue cover are paramount. We also aim to describe the variety of war injuries we came across,
with a goal for future improvement in regards to service providing. Methods: Prospective collection of six interesting cases with severe limb and spinal injuries sustained in Libya during the Libyan civil war between June and November 2014. Conclusions: We applied current trends in the treatment of war injuries, specifically in damage control orthopaedic strategy and converting to definitive treatment where permissible. The majority of our cases were classified as most severe (Type IIIB/C) according to the Gustilo-Anderson classification of open fractures. The injuries treated reflected the type of standard and improved weaponry available in modern warfare affecting both militants and civilians alike with increasing severity and extent of damage. Due to this fact, multidisciplinary team approach to patient centred care was utilised with an ultimate aim of swift recovery and early mobilisation. It also highlighted the difficulties and complex issues required on a hospital management level as a neighbouring country to war zone countries in transforming care of civil trauma to military trauma. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/56361 |
Appears in Collections: | Scholarly Works - FacM&SSur |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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The_Libyan_civil_conflict_2015.pdf | 1.57 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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