Blast injuries: a guide for the civilian surgeon.

The conflicts of the past decades have given military clinicians a familiarity with blast injury treatment. Management of these complex injuries has significantly advanced since the turn of the millennium. Survival levels amongst UK service personnel increased year on year during the 4th Anglo-Afghan war. Civilian casualties from terrorist activities have also included multiple casualties with similar military-style blast injuries. Civilian clinicians should have an understanding of blast-injured casualties so as to be prepared for future major terrorist attacks involving explosive devices. This article outlines the mechanisms by which blast inflicts injury and describes the management steps required to treat these complex, potentially lethal wounds. It is written from an understanding of UK military operations, and recent information from Ukraine, Gaza and Beirut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]