RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Neuropathic pain treatment and research: experiences from the United Kingdom mission to Afghanistan and future prospects
JF Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps
JO J R Army Med Corps
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP 207
OP 212
DO 10.1136/jramc-2017-000820
VO 164
IS 3
A1 Paul Wood
A1 C Small
A1 S Lewis
A1 P Mahoney
YR 2018
UL http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/164/3/207.abstract
AB The Defence Medical Services (DMS) of the United Kingdom (UK) assumed command of the Role 3 Medical Treatment Facility field hospital during Operation HERRICK in Afghanistan from April 2006 until the final drawdown in November 2014. The signature injury sustained by coalition personnel during this period was traumatic amputation from improvised explosive devices. Many patients who had suffered extensive tissue damage experienced both nociceptive and neuropathic pain (NeuP). This presented as a heterogeneous collection of symptoms that are resistant to treatment. This paper discusses the relationship of NeuP in the context of ballistic injury, drawing in particular on clinical experience from the UK mission to Afghanistan, Operation HERRICK. The role of this paper is to describe the difficulties of assessment, treatment and research of NeuP and make recommendations for future progress within the DMS.