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Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe and analyze casualties in mine-clearance operations in South Croatia from 1991 to 1995. During the war in Croatia, the laying of mines by both sides was largely unplanned, without mapping or documentation, making demining, an already expensive, complicated task, even more dangerous.Methods: The study comprised all those injured in mine-clearance operations treated at Clinical Hospital Split. The type of mines used, the mechanism of the incident, and the location and severity of injury according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale and the Injury Severity Score were analyzed.Results: In a 5-year period, 160 pyrotechnicians of the Croatian Army performed demining in Southern Croatia. In 29 incidents, 53 deminers were injured. The degree of injury according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale was 2.85 +/- 0.6 and Injury Severity Score grade was 19.68 +/- 8.57. Two of the injured died.Conclusion: To find and remove approximately 2 million mines laid in Croatia will take at least 10 years and 2,000 to 3,000 specialized personnel. Unfortunately, the results of the study demonstrate that a significant number of deminers will suffer grave injuries or die in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Antitank mines inflict devastating injuries that are usually fatal. The objective of this retrospective study was to analyze antitank mine casualties in South Croatia during the period from 1991 to 1995.Methods: Mechanism, degree of injury according to Abbreviated Injury Scale and Injury Severity Score, as well as surgical treatment were analyzed.Findings: Of 464 mine victims, 42 (9.0%) patients sustained antitank mine injuries, and 12 of these were fatal (29%). Abbreviated Injury Scale of the antitank mine injuries was 5.3 +/- 10.6. Military personnel were injured in 29 cases, and civilians were injured in 13 cases.Conclusion: Although injuries from antitank mines were ravaging, and frequently fatal, a significant number of patients survived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this retrospective study, antipersonnel mine casualties in Southern Croatia from 1991 to 1995 are analyzed and treatment options are discussed.Methods: Mechanism, degree of injury according to Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS), as well as surgical treatment were analyzed.Results: Of a 2,693 war trauma population, 422 (15.67%) patients sustained antipersonnel mine injuries, 241 (57.11%) from pressure mines and 181 (42.89%) from fragmentation mines. Military personnel were injured in 329 cases, civilians in 60 cases, and children in 33 cases. AIS was 3.01 +/- 0.56 and ISS was 17.92 +/- 6.59. Of 39 fatalities (9.24%) with a mean age of 27.98 +/- 1.70 years, 34 were soldiers, 4 were civilians, and 1 was a child. AIS was 5.35 +/- 0.39 and ISS was 54.94 +/- 2.36.Conclusion: Fatalities and morbidity arising from antipersonnel mines can be reduced by the provision of appropriate surgical and evacuation facilities at the actual battlefield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]