Complications of Combat Blast Injuries and Wounds

Blast-injured patients routinely challenge the orthopedic surgeons and other who care for them. Although they have been traditionally associated with combat and military medicine, recent events have demonstrated that civilian surgeons must be prepared to deal with these complex patients and associated injury patterns. Moreover, surgeons must anticipate the most common complications that afflict blast wounds and be prepared to treat them, while understanding the underlying physiology. Wound infections, invasive fungal infection, and heterotopic ossification each present their own unique challenges. However, following prompt recognition, each can be addressed in a systematic fashion to both good effect and outcomes. The purpose of this review is to present the most common complications of combat blast injuries and provide an evidence-based approach to prevention and management.