Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 11 issue 1 2021
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Combat injuries sustained by troops on counter terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in North east Nigeria: Implications for intervention
Dublin Core
Title
Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 11 issue 1 2021
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Combat injuries sustained by troops on counter terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in North east Nigeria: Implications for intervention
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Combat injuries sustained by troops on counter terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in North east Nigeria: Implications for intervention
Subject
Combat injuries
Troops
Counter terrorism
Nigeria
Intervention
Troops
Counter terrorism
Nigeria
Intervention
Description
Background: Understanding the epidemiology of battlefield casualties is required for plans and coordinated efforts
towards improved combat trauma care (CTC) performance and outcome. The engagement of the Armed
Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in containing Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT) and insurgency in Northeast Nigeria has
increased the risk of combat injuries to the troops. This study determined the characteristics of combat injuries
sustained by soldiers on counter terrorism and counter-insurgency operations to contain BHT.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of combat casualties managed in 7 Division (Field) Hospital, [an
equivalent of UN Level 2 facility] Maiduguri, Northeast Nigeria between November 2013 and October 2014.
Using data obtained from a designed Operational Casualty Card that contains their sociodemographic characteristics,
categorization (as Combat Arm, Combat Support Service, Civ-JTF), nature, mechanism and sites of
injury as well as inpatients records. The data were collated and analysed using SPSS version 20.
Results: A total of 209 casualties were treated. The age of the casualties ranged from 18 to 57 years with a mean of
30.6 ± 7.7 years and males constituting 99%. Over two-third (71.3%) casualties had gunshot injuries while
14.3% and 8.1% sustained improvised explosive device (IED) and fragments injuries respectively. Over threequarter
(77.5%) sustained injuries on the upper and lower extremities while 17 (7.7%) and 12 (5.7%) had injuries
on thorax/abdomen and head/neck respectively. Nineteen (9.1%) casualties resulted from friendly forces/
colleagues.
Conclusion: The study revealed that gunshot and IED/blasts on the extremities were the most frequent mechanism
and pattern of injuries sustained with less than a tenth of the casualties resulting from friendly forces. Training
health personnel on CTC, deployment of combat lifesavers to improve pre-hospital CTC, employment of skilled
Orthopaedic Surgeon and other relevant surgical subspecialties and timely air evacuation of critical cases from
the Field Hospital to the Base Hospital are recommended.
towards improved combat trauma care (CTC) performance and outcome. The engagement of the Armed
Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in containing Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT) and insurgency in Northeast Nigeria has
increased the risk of combat injuries to the troops. This study determined the characteristics of combat injuries
sustained by soldiers on counter terrorism and counter-insurgency operations to contain BHT.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of combat casualties managed in 7 Division (Field) Hospital, [an
equivalent of UN Level 2 facility] Maiduguri, Northeast Nigeria between November 2013 and October 2014.
Using data obtained from a designed Operational Casualty Card that contains their sociodemographic characteristics,
categorization (as Combat Arm, Combat Support Service, Civ-JTF), nature, mechanism and sites of
injury as well as inpatients records. The data were collated and analysed using SPSS version 20.
Results: A total of 209 casualties were treated. The age of the casualties ranged from 18 to 57 years with a mean of
30.6 ± 7.7 years and males constituting 99%. Over two-third (71.3%) casualties had gunshot injuries while
14.3% and 8.1% sustained improvised explosive device (IED) and fragments injuries respectively. Over threequarter
(77.5%) sustained injuries on the upper and lower extremities while 17 (7.7%) and 12 (5.7%) had injuries
on thorax/abdomen and head/neck respectively. Nineteen (9.1%) casualties resulted from friendly forces/
colleagues.
Conclusion: The study revealed that gunshot and IED/blasts on the extremities were the most frequent mechanism
and pattern of injuries sustained with less than a tenth of the casualties resulting from friendly forces. Training
health personnel on CTC, deployment of combat lifesavers to improve pre-hospital CTC, employment of skilled
Orthopaedic Surgeon and other relevant surgical subspecialties and timely air evacuation of critical cases from
the Field Hospital to the Base Hospital are recommended.
Creator
Nurudeen Hussain , I.B.J. Okeke , A.E. Oyebanji , J.I. Akunne , O.J. Omoruyi
Source
www.elsevier.com/locate/afjem
Publisher
ELSEVIER
Date
2 October 2020
Contributor
PERI IRAWAN
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Citation
Nurudeen Hussain , I.B.J. Okeke , A.E. Oyebanji , J.I. Akunne , O.J. Omoruyi, “Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 11 issue 1 2021
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Combat injuries sustained by troops on counter terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in North east Nigeria: Implications for intervention,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 17, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2600.
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Combat injuries sustained by troops on counter terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in North east Nigeria: Implications for intervention,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 17, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2600.