Warfare medicine: Historical perspectives

Abstract

The need for surgical care of survivors after warfare is part of the story of civilization [1]. Military conflicts are often characterized by specific injuries or pattern of wounding [2]. Throughout the history of warfare, changes in weaponry have produced changes in the nature of war-related injuries [3]. Depending on what kind of weapon and protection used, the injuries and number of survival differ. When weapons technology improved, surgeons were forced to rethink their interventions and treatment to make more soldiers survive [1].