Orthopedic surgery in the combat zone.

Experience in all major conflicts in this century has shown that orthopedic surgical/musculoskeletal care is a major component of medical support for deployed combat forces. This care consists of treatment of injuries due to both war wound trauma and non-wound trauma, which may be secondary to enemy action of "accidental". Key considerations are that most orthopedic injuries will require evacuation to echelon-IV or -V facilities out of the combat zone, and that appropriate treatment in the combat zone (echelon II or III) will reduce morbidity and facilitate evacuation. The modern experience of orthopedics in the combat zone is reviewed, with emphasis on the Persian Gulf experience and current Deployable Medical Systems, and a plan for care is promulgated.