Military medicine
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One challenge clinicians face is determining when a military Service Member (SM) can return to duty after an injury that affects the postural control. The gold standard to measure postural control is the Sensory Organization Test (SOT). This test measures the amount of sway present in an individual's static stance that may be used to examine range of function and monitor recovery from injury. Normative values currently available were developed using a sample of clinically normal adults from the general population (i.e., civilian non-aviator). Previous research suggests that these values should not be used as a comparative cohort for high-performing populations in the military. However, normative values, specific to military SMs, do not exist. The aim of this study was to develop a normative clinical database for functional balance (i.e., the SOT) for military-trained aviators, an occupational specialty that may consist of high performers. ⋯ Army-trained aviators are high-functioning performers whose SOT scores differ from that of the general civilian population, particularly for the more challenging test conditions. New normative values were developed from this study population. Use of the developed normative values could be used as a comparative cohort in screening aviators who are recovering from injuries that affect postural stability.
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The recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan entail an asymmetric battlefield without clearly defined forward lines of troops as seen in previous wars. Accordingly, the United States military medical services have increasingly adopted casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) platforms. We describe CASEVAC events reported within the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DODTR). ⋯ In our dataset, CASEVAC events most frequently involved US military personnel service members with most surviving to hospital discharge. Developing new terminology that distinguishes different types of CASEVAC would allow for more accurate future analyses of casualty evacuation and outcomes - such as those transports that are truly in a non-medical versus the various medical platforms that do not fall with into the confines of the MEDEVAC platforms.
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In 2017, over 75,000 cataract surgeries were performed within the Veterans Health Administration System (VHA). Previous reports of outcomes of cataract surgery in veterans include patients with pre-existing ocular disease, which can affect vision. To exclude the confounding factor of pre-existing ocular comorbidities, we investigated the long-term visual outcomes and complications associated with small incision cataract surgery performed on veterans without any pre-existing eye disease. ⋯ Analysis of 11 years of small incision cataract surgery in eyes without pre-existing ocular disease within the VHA showed significant improvement in vision and stability 12 months after uncomplicated and complicated surgery in veterans.
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Approximately, 320 physicians enter active duty in the U.S. Army each year, replacing a similar number separating from service. Despite the significant costs involved in educating and training physicians, factors associated with continued active service after completing obligations have not been well studied. ⋯ The physicians most likely to continue serving after completion of their obligation and ultimately retire are those who had the most years of service accumulated when they could leave the Army. Graduates from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) incur an obligation of 7 years vs. 4 years for most other programs. USU also attracts a higher proportion of applicants with prior military service and pre-medical school service obligations. The lack of significant difference in service after obligation completion or achievement of retirement eligibility between USU and non-USU graduates was explained by the greater total service of USU graduates when their obligations were complete. Changing the obligation and incentives, such as salary, for other accessioning programs to mirror the USU model would likely minimize service differences between USU and non-USU graduates.
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Case Reports
Latent Lyme Disease Resulting in Chronic Arthritis and Early Career Termination in a United States Army Officer.
Lyme disease is a continuing threat to military personnel operating in arboriferous and mountainous environments. Here we present the case of a 24-year-old Second Lieutenant, a recent graduate from the United States Military Academy, with a history of Lyme disease who developed recurrent knee effusions following surgery to correct a hip impingement. ⋯ This case illustrates the profound effect that latent Lyme disease can have on the quality of life and the career of an active duty military member. It highlights the need for increased surveillance for Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) in military training areas and for the early and aggressive diagnosis and treatment of military personnel who present with the symptoms of acute Lyme disease.