War injuries to the bone and joint system: reconstructive surgery.

Reconstructive bone and joint surgery in war is discussed. Bone and joint injuries account for over 70% of all injuries, 30% including a fracture. They pose a serious medical, surgical, and public health problem. The methods described aim to restore full function to the injured extremity. War injuries incorporate severe circulatory disorders and severe soft tissue and bacterial contamination. The war surgeon is faced with defectively healed or unhealed fractures, bone and tissue defects, joint injuries, traumatic amputations, large joint contractures, and infections. Clinically, external fixators, the Ilizarov method, antibiotic prophylaxis, and a new antiseptic agent have proved highly beneficial.