War of Disabilities: HBO's Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq Tells the Stories

Penetrating wounds from improvised explosive devices (IED) create unique patterns of injuries that are challenges for clinicians and rehabilitation professionals. An upward oblique trajectory through the neck region, coupled with chest wall and lung contusions is often seen. Extremity injuries present with extensive comminuted fractures and traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to combat appears to be associated with increased cerebral edema as compared with civilian TBI.

IED's are easily assembled from agricultural and medical supplies. Activated by remote control, they combine blast, fragmentation and armor penetration. Often grouped as "daisy chains ", inflicting damage on the underside of multiple military patrol vehicles and, using time delay, the rescue teams as they rush to help the wounded. IED's then, are an illusive battlefield threat generating deadly blast effect injuries. A wavefront of high pressure spreads out at1600 feet per second from the point of explosions, propelling shrapnel at high velocity. Ballistic trauma injuries, or penetrating brain injuries, are treated conventionally. But blast waves cause invisible brain damage, smashing the soft brain tissues against the hard inner skull. Neither helmets nor body armor can protect against the forces of high pressure wave blasts which can result in loss of consciousness, severe concussion, blindness and other neurological deficits.
1800 US troops are suffering from TBI due to penetrating head injuries but there are concerns that there may be many more suffering TBI due to blast waves from TBI. TBI has become "the signature wound of troops returning from Iraq".

Military records indicate that 60% of military injuries are due to IED's or roadside bombs. According to Defense Update International, Online Defense Magazine, the Iraq war, now in its fifth year, is not a war of death but a war of disabilities. David Eschel states the symbol of the war is not the cemetery, but "...the orthopedic ward, the neurosurgical unit..." Executive Producer James Gandolfini looks at a new generation of war wounded in his upcoming HBO feature documentary, Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq. The film premieres September 9, 2007 at 10:30 PM and can be streamed beginning Sunday 9/9/07 at 111:30 PM EST through 9/16/07 at 10:30 PM.

Thank you, Google images and mindhacks.com for use of image of Iraq IED.

Labels: blast injury, combat, defense, Gandolfini, HBO, IED, veterans

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Home From Iraq: HBO, James Gandolfini Focus on New Veterans

Depression is a serious problem for returning veterans of the Iraq war and their needs are going unmet. Returning veterans report feelings of alienation from their homes and families. The psychological problems, be they depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are creating havoc in family life, with almost half of veterans reporting family conflict or other relationship troubles upon returning from service.

The Veteran Resources Website has rich resources for family members concerned about loved ones with signs of mental illness or distress. That's just not enough though to prevent the alarming public health crisis that is the high suicide rate found in returning veterans. Mark Kaplan MD of Portland State University, has published a study finding that male veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide as civilian males. Oddly, being overweight seemed to confer protection against suicide by 50%. Dr. Kaplan states that being a veteran is a risk factor for suicide, especially for males.

Last week the Pentagon was forced to acknowledge that the suicide rate among returning veterans is the highest it has been in 26 years. Morale is extremely low, troops report little faith in their commanding officers. Problem relationships, legal and financial problems upon returning home are the reasons cited for suicide. "...there was a significant relationship between number of days deployed...and limited evidence to support the view that multiple deployments are a risk factor for suicide behaviors..."


The biggest threat to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan is improvised explosive devices (IED). Experts describe a mind set needed of constant vigilance - no place is safe. There is no safe haven. There is no down time. Devastating injuries from the war are the focus of a new HBO film by Executive Producer James Gandolfini, Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq.
In this new documentary which first airs September 9, 10:30 PM exclusively on HBO, Gandolfini interviews 10 veterans about their "alive day" - the day they suffered devastating injuries and lived to tell about it. Healthline will be featuring more posts about this event as we approach the date. We are honored to help HBO promote the important message of the film.

Thank you Cpl. Joseph DiGirolamo for use of photo of Lance Corporal William A. Staley while stationed in Iraq, 5/2006.

Labels: depression, Gandolfini, HBO, IED, PTSD, suicide, veterans

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