Basic Science of War Wounds

Throughout history, innovations in the care and treatment of wounded patients have been catalyzed by war. As discussed in Chapter 1, stepwise advances in triage and medical evacuation were documented during each major armed conflict from the American Revolution to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.¹ These advances were driven, in part, by the cumulative understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of wounding that progressed during the same intervals. In effect, more patients now survive their increasingly devastating wounds than ever before, and, as a result, patients and treating physicians alike now face new challenges over the long term. Thus, this cumulative knowledge described above is not a panacea, and research intended to benefit the wounded must continue.