Journal of Trauma and Injury

Original Articles

Vulnerability of the border area: analysis of the Traffic Accident Analysis System in Korea: Doo-Hun Kim, Hangjoo Cho, Sung Yub Jeong, Maru Kim; J Trauma Inj. 2025;38(2):91-96. Published online June 19, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2024.0100

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
This study assessed patient vulnerability following traffic accidents (TAs) in Korea’s border area (BA).
Methods
The BA includes cities and counties directly adjacent to the demilitarized zone with North Korea. The rear area (RA) is defined as the area immediately adjacent to the BA. TA data from 2017 to 2021 were obtained from the Traffic Accident Analysis System in Korea. Information on road length, population, number of TAs, injured patients, and fatalities was collected. The number of TAs and fatalities per 1 km of road length and per 100,000 people was calculated. Severity (number of fatalities per 100 TA cases) and lethality (number of fatalities divided by the sum of fatalities and injured patients) were used to assess the vulnerability of each area.
Results
A total of 55,463 TAs were analyzed. Although the RA exhibited higher numbers of TAs and deceased patients per 1 km of road length and per 100,000 people, the BA showed significantly higher fatalities per 100,000 people as well as increased severity and lethality.
Conclusions
The BA is more likely to be associated with death following TAs, despite a lower overall TA incidence compared to the RA. Further analysis is needed to address and mitigate this vulnerability.; Summary

Lessons from foreign military surgeons in the Korean War: advancing trauma surgery and preparing for future conflicts: Kun Hwang, Chan Yong Park; J Trauma Inj. 2025;38(2):103-110. Published online June 16, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2025.0041

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Purpose
The Korean War (1950–1953) significantly advanced military medicine, with foreign military surgeons playing a pivotal role in transforming trauma care under extreme conditions.
Methods
Resources such as PubMed, JSTOR, and reports from participating nations formed the basis of this study. A thorough comparative analysis was performed to examine the similarities and differences in medical practices between the United Nations Command and North Korean forces.
Results
The United States introduced Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals, revolutionizing trauma care by enabling rapid intervention near combat zones. Innovations such as helicopter evacuation, whole blood transfusions, and antibiotic treatments reduced mortality rates among treated soldiers to as low as 3%. British surgeons excelled in managing abdominal wounds and performing orthopedic surgery, often undertaking limb-saving procedures. Field hospitals provided comprehensive care for combat injuries and infectious diseases—a major concern given the inadequate sanitation. The Indian 60th Parachute Field Ambulance treated over 20,000 casualties, demonstrating adaptability in harsh environments. The Indian Field Hospital not only treated military casualties but also provided care to Korean civilians, offering life-saving medical interventions under challenging conditions. Denmark deployed the hospital ship MS Jutlandia, equipped with advanced surgical facilities, enabling a level of medical care that was not practical on land. The Swedish Red Cross Field Hospital in Busan delivered crucial medical aid to both military personnel and civilians; its staff focused on civilian outreach and controlling epidemics, with treatments targeting diseases such as typhoid and tuberculosis. Norwegian mobile surgical teams specialized in rapid interventions near combat zones, performing life-saving operations within hours of injury and thus minimizing complications and increasing survival rates.
Conclusions
The lessons learned from these contributions continue to influence modern military and civilian healthcare systems, highlighting the importance of innovation, collaboration, and resilience in conflict settings.

Summary

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Classification of gunshot wounds of the thyroid gland
E.M. Khoroshun, I.A. Lurin, K.V. Misiura, V.V. Makarov, V.V. Nehoduiko, Yu.V. Bunin, B.M. Chernobil, N.Yu. Seliukova
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY (Ukraine).2025; 21(7): 681. CrossRef

Review Article

Trauma Surgery and War: A Historical Perspective: Kun Hwang; J Trauma Inj. 2021;34(4):219-224. Published online September 7, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2021.0029

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Abstract PDF

The aim of this review is to introduce the progress in trauma surgery made during war. In the 16th century, Paré reintroduced ligature of arteries, which had been introduced by Celsus and Galen, instead of cauterization during amputation. Larrey, a surgeon in Napoleon’s military, adapted the “flying artillery” to serve as “flying ambulances” for rapid transport of the wounded. He established rules for the triage of war casualties, treating wounded soldiers according to the seriousness of their injuries and the urgency of medical care. To treat fractures and tuberculosis, Thomas created the “Thomas splint”, which was used to stabilize fractured femurs and prevent infection; in World War I (WWI), use of this splint reduced the mortality of compound femur fractures from 87% to less than 8%. During WWI, Cushing systematized the treatment of head injuries, reducing mortality among head injury patients. Gillies repaired facial injuries, and his experiences became the basis of craniofacial and aesthetic surgery. In WWII, McIndoe discovered that immersion in saline promoted burn healing and improved survival rates, and thus began saline baths and early grafting instead of using tannic acid. A high mortality rate in patients with acute renal failure was noted in WWII and the Korean War. In the Korean War, Teschan used the Kolff-Brigham dialyzer. The first use of medevac with helicopters was the evacuation of three British pilot combat casualties by the US Army in Burma during WWII. As a lotus blooms in the mud, military surgeons have contributed to trauma surgery during wartime.

Summary

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Freud Gradiva and the Aesthetic Unconscious: Lessons for the Plastic Surgeon
Kun Hwang
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.2026; 37(6): e539. CrossRef
Trauma eponyms (1837–1950): a comprehensive historical review
Halil Tekiner, Eileen S. Yale, Jacob Draves, Steven H. Yale
Journal of Trauma and Injury.2025; 38(3): 168. CrossRef
New horizons of Flaubert: from a barber-surgeon to a modern trauma surgeon
Kun Hwang
Journal of Trauma and Injury.2022; 35(Suppl 1): S1. CrossRef

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