Boston Strong

THURSDAY April 25, 2013—In the wake of the recent terrorist bombings at the Boston Marathon, we can take pride as American orthopedic surgeons that those who represented our specialty in the treatment of the gravely injured did so with professionalism and distinction. Of the more than 200 participants and spectators injured by the explosions, only those with mortal wounds at the scene did not survive the blasts.

The carnage in a civilian population forced a return to the basic principles and historical contributions of orthopedic surgery in the context of battlefield casualties: hemostasis, radical debridement, bone stabilization, and emergency amputation. Although not pretty or fancy, these basic skills were in many instances life and limb saving.

The uniqueness of the city of Boston is the significant concentration of physicians, surgeons, and hospitals with the capability to process and satisfactorily treat mass casualties. The usual inter-hospital and inter-specialty rivalries were immediately put aside for the overriding common good and common goal of appropriate patient care under the most challenging of circumstances.

Teamwork among law enforcement, first responders, nurses, and physicians was the linchpin in this successful endeavor. For the injured survivors, the road to recovery will be long and complicated. Limb reconstruction and considerable rehabilitation will be required. Orthopedic surgeons here and throughout the country will be critical in the oversight and performance of these measures necessary to restore the victims unto health and strength, to run another day.

Dr. Skoff is Editorial Review Board member of this journal; and Orthopedic Surgeon, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachussetts.

To comment or submit testimonials about the role of orthopedic surgeons and healthcare providers in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, please contact Frederique Evans, Editor of The American Journal of Orthopedics: fevans@frontlinemedcom.com