CLINICAL SITUATIONS INVOLVING UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE FOUND INSIDE THE BODIES OF WOUNDED INDIVIDUALS IN THE PRACTICE OF A FIELD MILITARY HOSPITAL

The paper presents two clinical cases involving the diagnosis and extraction of unexploded ordnance from the bodies of servicemen in the field hospital of the Russian Airborne Forces under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Prior to the special military operation, no more than 36 cases of unexploded explosive munitions penetrating the human body had been described in available literature. We observed two wounded soldiers admitted to our hospital with unexploded ordnance – an unexploded grenade launcher fragmentation round and a 30-mm projectile, located in the soft tissues of the chest and thigh, respectively.

Such a clinical scenario requires urgent measures to remove the munition while preventing detonation to save the wounded soldier’s life and ensure the safety of medical personnel. Extracting an unexploded munition from a human body demands meticulous preparation, strict adherence to safety protocols, and the use of protective gear, which may hinder motor skills and restrict surgeons’ movements during the operation. It is also worth noting that medical personnel endure extreme psychological and emotional stress. This requires the surgical team to demonstrate courage, composure, and specialized knowledge in mine-explosive engineering.

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