[Injuries from mines].

In autumn 1991, 157 patients injured by mine explosions were taken care of by a Norwegian military medical unit attached to the United Nations mission in the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait. 146 of the patients were seen during a three week period of Iraqi mine harvesting in the desert. The detachment worked according to the principles of a second echelon surgical installation. The patients were operated upon if necessary, stabilized and evacuated to Iraqi hospitals. 20 patients in all (13%) died primarily. Four of 109 patients evacuated to the field hospital died (4%). 68 patients had major amputations, in seven of them two extremities were blown off. One patient had an open chest wound, two had tracheal puncture wounds, and one had penetrating head injury. 27 patients had eye injuries, 13 of which were penetrating. 64 major surgical procedures were performed. When evacuation times are long after mine injuries, approximately six hours, almost only patients with injuries to the extremities can be expected to reach hospital for treatment. The pattern of injury was regular, with crushed extremities, amputations and damaged eyes.