Urology during Afghanistan mission: lessons learned and implications for the future

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Mortality from battle-related injuries has decreased significantly in modern warfare due to advancements in body armor.
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Genitourinary injuries (GUIs) occur in approximately 5% of combat-related injuries, often requiring complex surgical interventions.
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In a deployed U.S. facility in Afghanistan, German urologists treated 733 outpatients over four years, with a focus on external genitalia issues.
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The distribution of urological conditions differs significantly between combat deployments and domestic care, particularly in kidney stone cases.
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There are no established guidelines for treating battle-related GUIs, highlighting the need for specialized training for urological surgeons.

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