Prognostic assessment of the need for medical rehabilitation among military officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine based on the structure of their combat trauma

Keywords: amputation, combat injury, military serviceman, rehabilitation.

Abstract

Introduction. The increase in the number of injured servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the invasion of the Russian army determines today additional tasks and requirements for the medical service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine regarding the implementation of not only medical, but also rehabilitation measures. Early preparation and improvement of the rehabilitation care system is possible with early determination of the prognostic need for rehabilitation measures. Available sources of literature testify that it is possible to assess the prognostic need for medical rehabilitation based on the analysis of the structure of combat injuries.

The purpose. To conduct an analysis of the structure of combat wounds and injuries of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, followed by the determination of the prognostic need for their medical rehabilitation.

Materials and methods. The assessment of the magnitude and structure of combat sanitary losses of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the anti-terrorist operation (operation of the United Forces) (ATO (OOS)) who needed rehabilitation assistance was carried out on the basis of data: quarterly reports of health care institutions of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine regarding the codification of combat injuries, non-combat injuries and diseases in the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2017-2021; lists of persons who were injured while participating in anti-terrorist operations (ATO) for the period 2014-2021 and required prosthetics.

Results. It was established that for the period 2017-2021, the average share of persons with combat mechanical injuries who needed an extended amount of rehabilitation assistance was 16.69%. The largest share of injuries that required an extended amount of rehabilitation care due to injuries of the musculoskeletal system in the overall structure of combat mechanical injuries for the period of 2017-2021 accounted for injuries of the lower extremities (6.59% - 11.24%). During the period 2014-2021, 66.10% of servicemen participating in the anti-terrorist operation (operation of the United Forces) from the total number of amputees were amputees of one lower limb, the average age of these persons was 33.26±0.64 years. The invasion of Russian troops into the territory of Ukraine is accompanied by intensive hostilities with a large number of casualties. It was established that the dominant place in the victims is occupied by injuries of the limbs and bones of the pelvis - 66 (43.7%); chest - 31 (20.5%); head and neck – 27 (17.9%); abdomen and pelvic organs - 19 (12.6%); face – 8 (5.3%). One anatomical area was affected in 60.7%, two or more anatomical areas were affected in 39.3%.

Conclusions. The most successful prognostic indicators for determining the need for medical rehabilitation from the general structure of combat injuries are amputations, spinal cord and craniocerebral injuries. Of all the people who needed medical rehabilitation, the most common types of injuries during military conflicts, according to literature sources and based on the analysis of the structure of injuries and wounds of servicemen participating in anti-terrorist operations (ATO), are limb injuries. Analysis of the structure of combat injuries of servicemen during the invasion of Russia show that the largest number of people had injuries to the limbs and pelvis - 43.7%, according to this indicator, the largest amount of rehabilitation measures will be required by servicemen with the specified injuries. It should be taken into account that some people with peripheral nerve injuries, fractures or other types of combat injuries may be overestimated or underestimated in terms of their need for medical rehabilitation, and therefore this indicator is prognostic.

Author Biographies

A. V. Shvets, Ukrainian Military Medical Academy

Col MS, Dsc med, professor, Deputy chief for science of Ukrainian Military Medical Academy

O. V. Horishna, Ukraine Military Medical Academy

Doctor of medicine, Assistant professor, senior researcher of research department of preventive medicine of Research Institute of Military Medicine of Ukraine Military Medical Academy

Yu. M. Deputat, Ukrainian Military Medical Academy

PHD med, senior research fellow Research Institute of Military Medicine of the Ukrainian Military Medical Academy, leading researcher of the research department of preventive medicine

O. V. Rychka, Ukraine Military Medical Academy

researcher of research department (scientific support of development and modernization of medical techniques) of Research Institute of Military Medicine of Ukraine Military Medical Academy

A. Yu. Zhaldak, Ukrainian Military Medical Academy

senior lieutenant MS, research fellow of the research department of preventive medicine of the Research Institute of Military Medicine of the Ukrainian Military Medical Academy

A. Yu. Kikh, Military Medical Clinical Treatment & Rehabilitation Center

Сol. MS, MD, PhD, Head of the Military Medical Clinical Treatment & Rehabilitation Center

References

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Published
2022-09-30
How to Cite
Shvets, A. V., Horishna, O. V., Deputat, Y. M., Rychka, O. V., Zhaldak, A. Y., & Kikh, A. Y. (2022). Prognostic assessment of the need for medical rehabilitation among military officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine based on the structure of their combat trauma. Ukrainian Journal of Military Medicine, 3(3), 110-117. https://doi.org/10.46847/ujmm.2022.3(3)-110
Section
Current aspects of diagnosis and treatment

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