Thoracic wounds in Israeli battle casualties during the 1982 evacuation of wounded from Lebanon.

During the first 3 weeks of the operation "Peace for Galilee" (O.P.G.) 938 wounded soldiers were evacuated from Lebanon to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel. Of these, 64 (6.8%) had chest wounds with or without other wounds. The characteristics of these wounds, the treatment given in the field and at the hospital and their results, are examined and a review of the literature of chest war wounds are summarized. A rapid and efficient in-field medical aid was the most important contributing factor to the low mortality and morbidity rates achieved. As far as we know, this is the first time computerized tomography was used in the diagnosis of war wounds of the chest.