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MS05
EFFECT OF LANDMINES AND UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE ON CHILDREN VERSUS ADULTS OF CAMBODIA
Author(s) -
Bendinelli C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.04923_5.x
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , injury prevention , poison control , pediatrics , unexploded ordnance , emergency medicine , physics , remote sensing , optics , geology
Aim of these study is to compare the impact of explosive remnants of war on children as compared to adults. Methods: Consecutive series of patients acutely wounded by antipersonnel landmines, antitank landmines, or unexploded ordnances (UXO) treated at “EMERGENCY NGO” Surgical Centre, Cambodia. Paediatric patients (<16 years‐old) were compared to adults in terms of: female ratio, evacuation time, ordinance type, injury pattern, number of operations, transfused patients, hospitalization, mortality and residual disability. Results: From October 2003 to January 2006, 805 war wounded patients were admitted. Patients injured from more than 24 hours (n°443) or discharged against medical advice (n°8) were excluded. Among 356 included cases, 94 were children (26.4%). Females were more common among children (31.9% versus 11.8%). 61.7% of children were injured by UXO, whereas 72.1 of adults were victims of antipersonnel landmines. Antitank mines victims were uncommon in both groups. The majority of adults (49.2%) were injured to lower limbs, whereas 50.0% of children were injured to upper limbs, face, and torso. Random wounds, typical of an explosion in vicinity, were observed in 32.9% of children and 18.7% of adults. Number of transfused patients (23.0% versus 7.2%), mortality (6.3% versus 1.5%), and incidence of blindness and maimed upper limbs were higher in children compare to adults. All differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Evacuation time, number of operations, and days of hospitalization did not statistically differ. Conclusions: Following armed conflicts antitank mines, antipersonnel landmines, and UXO pose long term risks to population. Children are commonly injured and sustain the most severe injuries.