Landmine Injuries in Patients Admitted to Sanandaj Besat Hospital from 1997 to 2002

Aims.The problems of landmines left after armed conflicts have been increasingly publicized in recent years and are now recognised as reaching crisis proportions in many countries. In view of the fact that landmines pose a major health problem, this study sought to investigate landmine injuries in patients admitted to Sanandaj Besat Hospital between 1997 and 2002.Methods. This descriptive study recruited 134 landmine victims admitted to Besat trauma center in Kurdistan Province. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical methods.Results. There were134 patients afflicted with landmines most of them were referred from the Marivan City (41.2%) and 33.1% of them were students.The mean of hospitalization was 15 days (SD=13), and 278 surgical procedures were performed on 125 of our subjects. Lower limbs carried the highest rates of injuries.Conclusion. Landmines are a major health risk with the lower limbs prone to the highest rates of injury.Consequently, raising awareness of landmines and their dangers seems urgent.