Roadmap to life after the worst injuries, in times of war and peace

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced a horrific type of medical trauma known as the “dismounted complex blast injury” (DCBI), in which an improvised explosive device detonates beneath a soldier patrolling on foot, often leading to multiple-limb loss. Previously, these injuries were considered deadly, but today, new training techniques are helping to manage DCBIs, and in many cases stabilize these critically injured patients and restore many normal functions. The lessons learned will not only save lives on the battlefield in the future but also in civilian trauma centers today.