Antipersonnel Mines, Injuries, and Management: A Narrative Review

effects and flying debris. 2 The high rate of amputation presents not only formidable surgical challenges but also long-term psychological, orthopedic, and rehabilitative consequences for survivors. 5,6ntipersonnel mines may be broadly classified into blast mines, in which injury results predominantly from the direct explosive force, and fragmentation mines, where injury is caused by high-velocity fragments or shrapnel dispersed on detonation.A further subset, bounding mines, is designed to propel themselves into the air before exploding, thereby increasing the radius and severity of injury.Understanding these mechanisms is essential for anticipating injury patterns and guiding timely, effective surgical management. 7,8 IntroductIonAntipersonnel landmines remain among the most insidious weapons of modern conflict.Small, concealed, and indiscriminate, they are designed to detonate when a footstep is taken or a tripwire disturbed, delivering devastating injury with little or no warning.Manufactured from metal, plastic, or even wood and often camouflaged to blend seamlessly with the terrain, these devices are notoriously difficult to detect.Whether produced industrially for conventional warfare or crudely fabricated by insurgent and terrorist groups (Figs 1 and 2), their destructive potential is equally profound. 1,2nlike many weapons of war, antipersonnel mines are blind.They cannot distinguish between soldiers and civilians, adults and children, or wartime advance and postconflict resettlement.They recognize no ceasefire and continue to maim and kill long after hostilities have ceased, imposing a persistent burden on affected communities and healthcare systems.Originally intended to incapacitate or slow advancing combatants, they also function as powerful psychological deterrents, instilling fear and restricting movement across entire regions. 3,4he injury pattern associated with antipersonnel mines is distinctive and severe.The lower extremities bear the brunt of the blast, frequently resulting in complex soft-tissue destruction, comminuted fractures, vascular injury, and traumatic amputations.A significant proportion of victims also sustain additional injuries to the upper limbs, trunk, face, or eyes due to secondary blast