Throughout history complications of military trauma and in particular infection, have been responsible for countless deaths and other serious morbidity. In fact in major conflicts in the not too distant past, deaths from infection of battle wounds have almost equalled the number of deaths from the enemy action itself. It is obviously a tragic and avoidable situation and one that surgeons can be directly instrumental in removing.

Unfortunately, we are guilty of not learning from the lessons of history. Every major conflict brings either a new surgical technique or therapeutic aid which tempts surgeons and physicians alike to ignore simple principles of military surgery, and by their treating these wounds incorrectly, creates a whole new chapter of iatrogenically induced mortality.