Advanced medical care for soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

War inevitably advances medical knowledge, particularly in the area of orthopedic surgery. This article presents an overview of the types of injuries emerging from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the majority of which are extremity injuries, and the care soldiers are receiving on the battlefield, while being evacuated, and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It highlights the Army's use of new therapeutic approaches such as use of methyl methacrylate antibiotic beads, vacuum-assisted closure devices, and new prosthetic technologies.