IS PRESENT BODY ARMOUR WORN BY PAKISTANI SOLDIERS SUFFICIENT IN PREVENTING THE TORSO INJURIES DURING COMBAT

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of penetrating torso injury from sides in soldiers equipped with torso body armour.
Study Design: Descriptive study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, from 1st June 2008 to 30th May 2010.
Patients and Methods: All combat casualties with penetrating torso Injury received in „Emergency Reception‟ of Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar were included in study. The parameters recorded were age, cause of the injury, direction of penetrating torso Injury (front/side), presence of other injures e.g. PEI (Penetrating Extremity Injury) and PHNI (Penetrating Head and Neck Injury), haemo-dynamic status, conscious level, intensive care stay, ward admission duration, total hospital stay, morbidity and mortality.
Results: During the study period, 105 combat casualties with penetrating torso Injury, inspite of wearing body armour at time of injury, were received in „Emergency Reception‟ of Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar. Seventy seven (73.3 %) cases had primary cause of injury being splinters from Improvised Explosive Devices (IED‟s) or bomb blast; while 28 (26.7%) cases had gunshot wounds. It was interesting to note that in 91 (86.67 %) cases PTI (Penetrating Torso Injury) occurred from sides, and in remaining cases it was from front, which was either at upper or lower areas of torso. Overall mortality was 17 (16.9 %) which was mainly due to uncontrolled haemorrhage, or due to accompanied injury of other body parts.
Conclusion: The use of torso body armour in Pakistan Armed Forces has decreased the mortality but it is still deficient in many aspects especially from sides, in preventing penetrating torso injury.