Combat blast injuries are typically categorized by the mechanism of injury. Primary blast injuries result from the over-pressurization wave and typically affect gas-filled body structures (eg, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, middle ear) resulting in injuries such as blast lung, tympanic membrane rupture, abdominal hemorrhage, and concussion. Secondary blast injuries result from flying debris propelled by the blast wind and may affect any body part. Blunt force or penetrating injuries are possible. Tertiary blast injuries occur when the body is accelerated by the blast wind or pressure gradients. Any body part may be affected and typical injuries include fracture and traumatic amputation, closed and open brain injuries, and crush injuries. Quaternary blast injuries are due to other products of the explosion (eg, heat, light) and exposure to toxins and gases. Any body part may be affected and injuries include burns, blindness, and respiratory problems from inhaled toxic gases. Quinary blast injuries include illnesses, injuries, and diseases resulting from post-explosion environmental contaminants (eg, bacteria, radiation). Factors such as type of explosive, distance from the explosion, and body orientation relative to the explosion influence the impact of the explosion on the body.

Despite recognition of greater use of improvised and other explosive devices in the Afghanistan and Iraq War counter-insurgency operations relative to prior conflicts, the scientific literature regarding the incidence and prevalence of explosive device induced injuries is limited. Additionally, the consequences of experiencing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) related to blast exposure versus a TBI due to other mechanisms of injury (eg, motor vehicle accident, fall) may be different. Accurate assessment of the incidence and prevalence of blast and non-blast-related injuries as well as their long-term outcomes is a critical first step in injury prevention, treatment, and health system resource management. The purpose of this report is to systematically review the literature on 1) incidence and prevalence of combat blast injuries sustained during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) 2001 through 2014 and 2) the outcomes (eg, pain, vision loss, cognitive function, quality of life) following blast versus non-blast TBI.

Contents

• PREFACE
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
  • INTRODUCTION
  • METHODS
  • RESULTS
  • DISCUSSION
  • ABBREVIATIONS TABLE
• INTRODUCTION
  • BACKGROUND
  • PICOTS
• METHODS
  • TOPIC DEVELOPMENT
  • SEARCH STRATEGY
  • STUDY SELECTION
  • DATA ABSTRACTION
  • RISK OF BIAS ASSESSMENT
  • DATA SYNTHESIS
  • RATING THE BODY OF EVIDENCE
  • PEER REVIEW
• RESULTS
  • LITERATURE FLOW
  • KEY QUESTION #1. What is the incidence of combat blast injuries associated with OEF, OIF, and OND as reported in the literature or in published reports from Department of Defense (DoD) and VA databases during the period 2001-2014?
  • KEY QUESTION #1A. What is the incidence by blast characteristics (ie, primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and quinary), injury site, and injury outcome?
  • KEY QUESTION #2. What is the prevalence of combat blast injuries associated with OEF, OIF, and OND as reported in the literature or in published reports from Department of Defense (DoD) and VA databases during the period 2001-2014?
  • KEY QUESTION #2A. What is the prevalence of blast injury by blast characteristics, injury site, and injury outcome?
  • KEY QUESTION #3. What are the short-term (up to 30 days), mid-term (30 days to one year) and long-term (greater than one year) injury outcomes (ie, pain, burns, limb loss, vision loss, hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction, PTSD, cognitive function, quality of life, functional status/employment, other) among US military personnel (2001-2014) who have sustained a blast-related TBI versus a non-blast TBI or a combined blast/non-blast TBI?
  • KEY QUESTION #3A. What are the short-term (up to 30 days), mid-term (30 days to one year) and long-term (greater than one year) injury outcomes among US military personnel (2001-2014) who have sustained a blast-related TBI according to blast characteristics?
• SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION
  • SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE BY KEY QUESTION
  • DISCUSSION
  • LIMITATIONS
  • APPLICABILITY OF FINDINGS TO THE VA POPULATION
  • RESEARCH GAPS/FUTURE RESEARCH
  • CONCLUSIONS
• REFERENCES
• APPENDIX A. SEARCH STRATEGIES
• APPENDIX B. PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS AND RESPONSES
• APPENDIX C. EVIDENCE TABLES

Suggested citation:

Greer N, Sayer N, Kramer M, Koeller E, Velasquez T, Wilt TJ. Prevalence and Epidemiology of Combat Blast Injuries from the Military Cohort 2001-2014. VA ESP Project #09-009; 2016.

This report is based on research conducted by the Evidence-based Synthesis Program (ESP) Center located at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Quality Enhancement Research Initiative. The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the author(s) who are responsible for its contents; the findings and conclusions do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government. Therefore, no statement in this article should be construed as an official position of the Department of Veterans Affairs. No investigators have any affiliations or financial involvement (eg, employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties) that conflict with material presented in the report.