Amputation Cases Among Troops Hit Post-9/11 High in 2011

Amputation Cases Among Troops Hit Post-9/11 High in 2011

February 10, 2012
Stars and Stripes|by Chris Carroll
WASHINGTON -- More U.S. troops lost limbs in 2011 than in any previous year of fighting since the 9/11 attacks, recently published Pentagon data show.

The grisly toll, 240 cases of deployed troops with at least one arm or leg amputated, appears to mainly reflect the ongoing troop surge in Afghanistan, along with an increased emphasis on foot patrols in areas where insurgents are active.

Amputation cases were up from 196 in 2010 and exceeded the previous high of 205 during the 2007 Iraq surge, according to figures published this month by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center. The Marine Corps was hit hardest by far, with 129 Marines suffering amputations in 2011.

The Army, which has more troops in the country, had 100 amputation cases. Six sailors and five airmen also lost limbs.
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