The role of wound microbiota in shaping the quality of life of patients with combat-related limb injuries

Abstract

Introduction. Limb injuries resulting from combat-related trauma, including amputations, burns, and blast injuries, significantly impact patients’ physical and psychological well-being. However, the influence of injury location (upper vs. lower limb) and wound microbiological characteristics on recovery outcomes remains understudied.

Objective. To evaluate the impact of wound infection, trauma character and its location in physical and mental health outcomes of patients with upper and lower limb injuries.

Methods. A total of 68 male patients aged 25–60 years with traumatic limb injuries were divided into two groups based on injury location: upper limb (Group 1, n=31) and lower limb (Group 2, n=37). Demographic data, trauma type, and wound microbial contamination were recorded. The SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess physical and mental health. Statistical analysis included group comparisons and multivariate regression to identify predictors of SF-36 scores.

Results. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of age, trauma type, or SF-36 scores (p > 0.05). However, patients with lower limb injuries demonstrated a trend toward lower physical functioning scores. Group 2 showed slightly higher mean scores on mental health subscales. Multivariate regression revealed that the presence of polymicrobial wound infection was significantly associated with lower physical functioning scores (p = 0.0025), independent of trauma type or injury location.

Conclusions. While the anatomical site of injury did not significantly affect SF-36 outcomes, the presence of mixed wound infections was a significant negative predictor of physical functioning. These findings highlight the need for integrated trauma care that includes accurate infection control to support functional recovery.