Rehabilitation of landmine victims--the ultimate challenge

Bull World Health Organ. 2003;81(9):665-70. Epub 2003 Nov 14.

Abstract

Antipersonnel landmines are often used indiscriminately and frequently result in injury or death of non-combatants. In the last 65 years, over 110 million mines have been spread throughout the world into an estimated 70 countries. Landmine victims use a disproportionately high amount of medical resources; the vast majority of incidents occur in regions and countries without a sophisticated medical infrastructure and with limited resources, where rehabilitation is difficult in the best of circumstances. It is suggested that only a quarter of the patients with amputation secondary to landmines receive appropriate care.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Artificial Limbs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Blast Injuries / economics
  • Blast Injuries / etiology
  • Blast Injuries / rehabilitation*
  • Child
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans