Operational Dermatology

Abstract

Military dermatology encompasses all cutaneous manifestations that present to medical officers in a deployed situation, either in peacetime or in war. Medical officers in a field environment cannot avoid facing cutaneous quandaries. This article briefly highlights the omnipresent threat of cutaneous disease. It follows with a cost-effective look at periodically deploying a dermatologist to Bosnia. Volumes of historical data clearly justify the assignment of a dermatologist as a special consultant staff officer to every corps or theater medical staff. Despite this data, only two U.S. Army units in our present table of organization and equipment will have a dermatologist (60L) available for periodic direct-field consultation and teaching. After review of the historical data and the Stabilization Force-Bosnia statistics presented here, the table of organization and equipment restructuring that is required to meet the challenges of tomorrow will be clear. A dermatologist must be deployed as a theater or division consultant.

Teledermatology From a Combat Zone

“…H istorically, dermatologic conditions account for between 15% and 75% of all outpatient visits in the combat environment during wartime. 1 Teledermatology has proven to be an effective adjunct to extend dermatologic services to remote locations. 2,3 Since July 2004, the US Army has operated a store-and-forward teledermatology consult service for deployed medical providers.…”

“…Historically, primary health care providers provide most of the dermatologic care in a wartime environment. 1 Dermatologists in the military remain in short supply. Because of the high demand and low availability of dermatologists, teledermatology is an excellent specialist extender that allows primary health care providers worldwide access to dermatology consults.…”

“…T o our knowledge, narcolepsy was first associated with alopecia areata (AA) in the Spanishlanguage literature in 1992. 1 The author described 2 patients with alopecia universalis and 1 with AA who subsequently developed symptoms suggestive of narcolepsy. In all 3 cases, the diagnosis of narcolepsy was made J. Scott Henning, DO Wendi Wohltmann, MD Chad Hivnor, MD…”

Relevant Dermatoses Among U.S. Military Service Members: An Operational Review of Management Strategies and Telemedicine Utilization

“…Historical events highlight the utility of operational dermatology in a combat setting. The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) during World War I employed two special dermatology consultants [ 252 ]. Additionally, the AEF implemented two field hospitals that operated as specialized dermatology hospitals.…”

Contribution of Dermatologic Surgery in War

“…Historically, dermatologic conditions have contributed significantly to disease and nonbattle injury in the combat environment 1 . In tropical environments, they have been reported to account for up to 75% of outpatient complaints 2 .…”