The individual values of combatants determine life goals, how to achieve them, and perform an important adaptive and protective function under conditions of combat stress. Understanding them enables mental health professionals to create an effective system of Combat and Operational Stress Control for military personnel. The purpose of this research was to determine the personal value sphere typology of individual values of combatants of the War in Eastern Ukraine, and, on its basis, to predict the vector of PTSD development. The value sphere (Rokeach Value Scale) and peculiarities of mental status (“Traumatic Stress Questionnaire”) of nine hundred forty three Ukrainian combatants were investigated. Cluster analysis made it possible to create a typology of combatants' values, consisting of five types: “Passionary”, “The one who does not leave the comfort zone”, “Romantic”, “Formal military man”, “Routine”. The most resistant to combat stress are combatants who are aimed at interiorizing values, expanding the boundaries of existing norms, and public recognition (“Passionary” (2.19%), “Romantic” (3.82%)), and the most vulnerable are those who are “Routine” (15.30%) and “Formal military man” (4.37%). The majority of Ukrainian combatants have a defined type of “The one who does not leave the comfort zone” type (74.32%). For them, safety and well-to-do life are the main priorities.
Infection complication has a major impact on outcomes of patients with combat related penetrating head injuries. There is still a discussion around which factor influence outcomes and infection complication. In the beginning of war, in 2014, the evacuation system was not ready for a sudden start of hostilities because of limited medical resources, the lack of neuro visualization in the frontline, the lack of trained personnel provided first aid to the wounded. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the factors that influenced the development of infectious complications in penetrating combat head injuries with limited medical capabilities on theatre Materials and methods: This is retrospective study of 79 military cases with penetrating head injuries, which was received during the fighting in eastern Ukraine in the period from March 2014 to the end of December 2017. Information was collected on demographics, evacuation assistance, type of injury and infectious complications. R commander was used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. Results: Infection complication of CNS were detected in 31 cases (39,24%). Factors that influence rate of infection are low GCS on first evaluation (p<0.001), CSF leak (p=0.002), ventricular injury (p<0.005), installation of tidal drainage (p=0.005), superficial wound infection (p=0.013) and wound dehiscence (p<0.001). Conclusions: There are many controversies in managing penetrating gunshot wounds to the head. Still exist lack of information that neurosurgeon can trust. Data even about small samples still very informative.
