MY FIRST OPERATION DEPLOYMENT – RAF THUMRAIT

G. Ampat

doi:10.1302/0301-620X.85BSUPP_II.0850131c

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MY FIRST OPERATION DEPLOYMENT – RAF THUMRAIT

G. Ampat

MY FIRST OPERATION DEPLOYMENT – RAF THUMRAIT

Ampat G. MY FIRST OPERATION DEPLOYMENT – RAF THUMRAIT. Orthop Procs. 2003;85-B(SUPP_II):131-131. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.85BSUPP_II.0850131c

Ampat, G.. “MY FIRST OPERATION DEPLOYMENT – RAF THUMRAIT.” Orthopaedic Proceedings, vol. 85-B, no. SUPP_II, 2003, pp. 131-131., https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.85BSUPP_II.0850131c

Ampat, G. (2003). MY FIRST OPERATION DEPLOYMENT – RAF THUMRAIT. Orthopaedic Proceedings, 85-B(SUPP_II), 131-131. https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.85BSUPP_II.0850131c

Ampat, G. (2003) “MY FIRST OPERATION DEPLOYMENT – RAF THUMRAIT.” Orthopaedic Proceedings, 85-B(SUPP_II), pp. 131-131. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.85BSUPP_II.0850131c

Ampat, G. “MY FIRST OPERATION DEPLOYMENT – RAF THUMRAIT.” Orthopaedic Proceedings 85-B, no. SUPP_II (2003): 131-131. https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.85BSUPP_II.0850131c

Ampat G. MY FIRST OPERATION DEPLOYMENT – RAF THUMRAIT. Orthop Procs. 2003 Feb 1;85-B(SUPP_II):131-131. https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.85BSUPP_II.0850131c

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To audit the workload of an Orthopaedic Surgeon sent on deployment to the Middle East. The cases seen and treated are discussed. The audit was to determine the lessons for the future.

DISCUSSION: 86 in patient admissions occurred between 12.01.2002 and 10.04.2002. A break up of speciality was a follows: Orthopaedic 38, Medical 27, General Surgical 16 and Psychiatric 5. A breakdown of the Orthopaedic cases were as follows: Ankle Injury 5, Arthralgia 3, Closed Fracture 4, Elbow Injury 1, Knee Injury 5, Low Back Pain 5, Multiple Soft Tissue Injury 3, Open Injury 3, Sciatica 1, Shoulder Injury 2, Soft Tissue Injury 3, and Stress Fracture 3. The 3 suspected stress fractures and the 2 gun shot wounds required special mention. 31 of 38 Orthopaedic patients were sent back to the UK through the Aeromedical chain. These patients were subclassified according to the requirement of evacuation through the Aeromedical chain. Seventeen patients, though not fit for theatre were able to undertake their own flight back. A trial of sending them back on unaccompanied flights failed. All patients were then evacuated through the Aeromedical chain. On average this meant one medical attendant per 2 patients. If civilian flights were taken this would have meant an extra expenditure of £4,800 (£600 x 8).

Illness behaviour was noted in 10 of the 38 Orthopaedic patients. All these patients were evacuated to the UK. Malingering as tested by the Burns bench test, modified Schobers test, Hoover test and Inappropriate Waddells signs were positive in 4 of these patients whose initial complaint was of low back pain.

CONCLUSION: It is proposed that the category of patients who are unfit for theatre but fit to fly unaccompanied should be recognised. It is also proposed that patients potentially deployable but showing illness behaviour should be discharged from the services earlier as it causes unnecessary expenditure and enforces extra work on other sincere and fit personnel.

These abstracts were prepared by Squadron Leader G. Pathak FRCS (Trauma & Orth). Correspondence should be addressed to him at Royal Hospital Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 2AA.