Joint Facial and Invasive Neck Trauma (J-FAINT) Study

Abstract

Objective: 1) Describe the rate and type(s) of head and neck trauma in Iraq and Afghanistan theaters during 2003-2011 using military trauma database. 2) Determine directions for future research in personal protective and tactical gear to help prevent injury and death from facial and neck trauma in war and civilian uses.

Method: Study of US servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003-2011. Data were collected December 2011. Examples of data include type and severity of head and neck trauma, associated injuries, age, sex, theater of injury, injury severity score, and abbreviated injury scale. Data were collected using the Joint Theater Trauma System (JTTS).

Results: Data analysis is ongoing. The analysis demonstrates 7,177 service members who sustained head and neck trauma during the study period in Iraq and Afghanistan, combined. Of those patients sustaining head and neck trauma, 270 (3.8%) were killed in action or died of wounds. About one-third sustained head and/or neck trauma alone, but most had associated torso and/or extremity injuries, which increased the injury severity score. The majority of injuries occurred in Iraq. Most of the injured were in the US Army (75%), followed by the Marine Corps (20%), Air Force (3%), and Navy (2%). Most injuries were minor-moderate (AIS 1-3).

Conclusion: Head and neck trauma is common in wartime, and the most recent conflicts confirm this. Many patients sustained injuries in Iraq, the majority were in the Army, and the majority were minor injuries. Most patients (96.2%) who sustained head and neck trauma survived their injuries, even when associated with extremity and torso injuries.