New educational resource on combat-related peripheral nerve injuries

July 18, 2024

A new educational resource, Combat-related Peripheral Nerve Injuries, is now available for healthcare professionals. This resource, authored by Professor Ileana M. Howard, MD, and colleagues from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, provides essential knowledge on diagnosing and treating nerve injuries related to military combat.

The educational activity, published in Muscle & Nerve, covers:

How to recognize and diagnose different types of nerve injuries caused by compression, direct trauma, amputations, nutritional deficiencies, toxic chemicals, and blasts.
How to use diagnostic tools like electrodiagnostic studies, ultrasound, and MRI to evaluate these injuries.
The best treatment methods and procedures for combat-related nerve injuries.

Service members and veterans are at a higher risk of nerve injuries due to their rigorous training and combat experiences. These injuries can range from ‘rucksack palsy’ from carrying increasingly heavy body armor and supplies onto the battlefield to more recent blast injuries and toxic exposures from conflicts in the Middle East. Common causes include compression, trauma, nutritional deficits, amputations, and chemical exposures.

In order to best care for our 18 million U.S. Veterans, all clinicians should be aware of the unique occupational exposures related to military service which may result in healthcare concerns later in life. Early and comprehensive treatment is vital to reduce long-term disability and improve recovery. Diagnosing these injuries can be difficult due to other battlefield injuries or delayed symptoms from toxic exposures. Advances in imaging, like MRI and ultrasound, help in accurately diagnosing these injuries, alongside electromyography (EMG). Surgical interventions and comprehensive rehabilitation are essential for optimal recovery.

The American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) offers this resource as part of its continuing medical education program. Healthcare professionals can earn up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ by participating in this activity.