More Detainees Receive Surgical Treatment

January 25, 2002 - U.S NAVAL BASE GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Two detainees received surgical treatment this week at the U.S. Naval Hospital here for combat injuries suffered in Afghanistan.

One detainee was treated for what appears to be a gunshot wound to the left hip. Three Navy orthopedic surgeons performed the surgery. The procedure, called incision, drainage and reduction, took approximately two hours.

A second detainee was treated for an open fracture of the lower left leg. Doctors describe this wound as a combat injury. Navy orthopedic surgeons performed an incision, drainage and reduction procedure to repair the detainee's tibia and fibula. This procedure also took about two hours.

Both detainees were alert and stable at the time of surgery, and doctors explained the nature of the procedure to the detainees before performing surgery. Both detainees remained overnight at the hospital in the detainee acute care unit. The detainees were released from the hospital and sent back to Camp X-Ray Wednesday morning.

The detainees remained under tight security throughout the procedure.

Medical personnel expect that additional surgeries will be required for both detainees due to the complex nature of the injuries.

Additionally, three more detainees with combat injuries will have their wounds surgically treated over the next two days.

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