Military medicine
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Observational Study
Persistent MRI Findings Unique to Blast and Repetitive Mild TBI: Analysis of the CENC/LIMBIC Cohort Injury Characteristics.
MRI represents one of the clinical tools at the forefront of research efforts aimed at identifying diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Both volumetric and diffusion MRI findings in mild TBI (mTBI) are mixed, making the findings difficult to interpret. As such, additional research is needed to continue to elucidate the relationship between the clinical features of mTBI and quantitative MRI measurements. ⋯ In deployment-related mTBI, significant findings in this cohort were only observed when considering mTBI sub-groups (blast mechanism and total number/dose). Simply comparing healthy controls and those with a positive mTBI history is likely an oversimplification that may lead to non-significant findings, even in consortium analyses.
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Because of the diverse backgrounds of their healthcare professionals, Ukrainian military medicine needs expanded and enhanced military medical training to increase their readiness in the war against Russia. During March 2023, eight Ukrainian healthcare professionals participated in Operation Gunpowder, a high-fidelity prolonged casualty care simulation conducted by the USU as a part of its Military Unique Curriculum. In order to evaluate their experiences, we interviewed each healthcare professional and analyzed the data to determine common themes. ⋯ After experiencing the prolonged casualty care simulation training, the Ukrainian participants believed Operation Gunpowder to be a valuable training tool due to its ability to help them overcome the current challenges they are facing in their war against Russia. They described how they would integrate similar training in Ukraine, and follow-up correspondence revealed the success of these efforts. Other universities and institutions are likewise called to use their knowledge and resources to help train Ukrainian health professionals using simulation-based training or other education modalities.
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The main goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of a head-mounted display (HMD) providing telemedicine neurosurgical support during a decompressive craniectomy by a military surgeon who is isolated from readily available neurosurgical care. The secondary aim was to assess the usability perceived by the military surgeon and to evaluate technical aspects of the head-mounted display. ⋯ It is feasible to provide telemedicine neurosurgical support with a HMD during a decompressive craniectomy performed by a non-neurosurgically trained military surgeon. All military surgeons showed competence in performing a decompressive craniectomy after receiving a standardized concise lecture. The use of a HMD clearly demonstrated the potential to improve the quality of these neurosurgical procedures performed by military surgeons.
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Injuries are the leading cause of medical encounters with over 2 million medical encounters for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and over 700,000 acute injuries per year. Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are by far the leading health and readiness problem of the U.S. Military. The Proceedings of the International Collaborative Effort on Injury Statistics published a list of 12 data elements deemed necessary for injury prevention in the civilian population; however, there are no standardized list of common data elements (CDEs) across the DoD specifically designed to study MSKIs in the Military Health System (MHS). This study aims to address this gap in knowledge by defining CDEs across the DoD for MSKIs, establishing a CDE dictionary, and compiling other necessary information to quantify MSKI disease burden in the MHS. ⋯ This article identifies core data elements needed to understand and prevent MSKIs and where these data elements can be found. These elements should inform researchers and result in evidence-informed policy decisions supporting SM health to optimize military force readiness.
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Research finds that experiencing psychological stress can be associated with engaging in less physical activity, a critical contributor to operational readiness and overall health and well-being. As navy personnel tend to engage in lower levels of physical activity than other military personnel, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between stress and physical activity in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and identify moderators of this relationship. ⋯ The findings of this study support a complex relationship between experiencing stress and engaging in physical activity, which showed varying patterns based on BMI classification. Although the cross-sectional nature of the data precludes any inferences about the direction of these effects, the results suggest that some members of the RCN are more at risk of experiencing decrements in physical activity. Future research should examine the types of physical activity supports and incentives that are needed to ensure that navy personnel derive the benefits of an active lifestyle, especially in times of stress.