Volume 18 Number 1 January 2010 Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health Abstracts from the 2009 AMMA Conference Abstracts from the Inaugural South Australian Defence and Veterans Health Research Paper Day The Journal of the Australian Military Medicine Association www.amma.asn.au Table of Contents Editorial Inside this edition ................................................................................................................................................... 3 President’s Message ................................................................................................................................................ 3 2009 AMMA/CCMT Joint Conference Conference Report ................................................................................................................................................... 4 AMMA Conference Abstracts ................................................................................................................................5 Keynote Speaker .................................................................................................................................................5 Deployment and Mental Health ..................................................................................................................... 5 Ability and Capability........................................................................................................................................ 7 Veterans’ Health I ...............................................................................................................................................8 Army Medical Training................................................................................................................................... 11 ADF Deployable Healthcare .......................................................................................................................... 12 Anaesthesia in Remote and Austere Environments .............................................................................13 Mental Health Developments ........................................................................................................................ 13 Trauma ............................................................................................................................................................. 15 Clinical Miscellany ......................................................................................................................................... 17 Veterans Health III .......................................................................................................................................... 18 Lessons.............................................................................................................................................................. 20 Afghanistan the latest experience - where to from here?...................................................................23 Inaugural South Australian Defence and Veterans Health Research Paper Day Overview...................................................................................................................................................................25 Abstracts..................................................................................................................................................................26 Australian Military Medicine Association News 2009 Queens Birthday Honours..........................................................................................................................36 Obituary Eulogy for Major Raffaele Scicchitano ...............................................................................................................37 Correction JMVH Vol.17 No.4 - October 2009 .....................................................................................................................38 Instructions to Authors ......................................................................................................................................... 39 Copyright Policy ..................................................................................................................................................... 47 Cover Photo by: Leading Aircraftman Guy Young Simulating a wounded soldier, Private Mathew Johnson is carried by members of Battle Group Timor Leste 3 to a waiting ambulance during a medical evacuation exercise in Dili, Timor Leste. TITLE: 7RAR patrol in central Dili Volume 18 Number 1; January 2010 Page 1 Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health EDITORIAL BOARD Dr Andrew Robertson (Editor in Chief) Associate Professor Scott Kitchener (Managing Editor) Dr Graeme Cannell Dr Keith Horsley Dr Peter Leggat Professor Malcolm Sim Dr Bob Stacy Dr Darryl Tong Australian Military Medicine Association PATRON MAJOR GENERAL Paul Alexander Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General Australian Defence Force COUNCIL President Dr Greg Mahoney Vice President Dr Nader Abou-Seif Secretary Dr Janet Scott Treasurer Dr Neil Westphalen Council Members Mr Kerry Clifford Dr Stephanie Hodson Dr Andrew Robertson Mr Geoff Robinson Public Officer Ms Paula Leishman STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES The Australian Military Association is an independent, professional scientific organisation of health professions with the objectives of: • Promoting the study of military medicine • Bringing together those with an interest in military medicine • Disseminating knowledge of military medicine • Publishing and distributing a journal in military medicine • Promoting research in military medicine Membership of the Association is open to doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics and anyone with a professional interest in any of the disciplines of military medicine. The Association is totally independent of the Australian Defence Force. ISSN No. 1835-1271 Page 2 Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health Editorial Inside this edition This edition of the Journal is given over to the In addition, this Edition contains abstracts from the publication of the abstracts from a highly successful Inaugural South Australian Defence and Veterans’ Association Annual Scientific Conference held on the Health Research Paper Day, which was held on 18 Gold Coast at the end of October 2009. Around 50 July 2009 in Daw Park, South Australia. An overview papers were read from a wide range of international of the day is also included. and local speakers ranging across all the health professions. Dr Andy Robertson A full conference report precedes the abstracts, highlighting the success and benefits to members and Editor in Chief the disciplines of health and medicine in the military and veterans’ contexts. President’s message Greetings and welcome to the first Journal of Military operational, mental and allied health. A special and Veterans’ Health for 2010. The New Year brings thankyou goes to our plenary speakers Dr Fiona Wood in a few changes in the Executive of AMMA, as the and Prof Andre van Zundert and to Michael Groom’s astute among you will realise that the Association’s inspirational presentation during the conference president for the past seven years, Russ Schedlich, dinner. This year AMMA in conjunction with Joint has resigned. It is perhaps appropriate at this point to Health Command will host the Defence Health reflect on his legacy. Russ has seen a growth in our Symposium in Canberra from the 29-31 October conference which has increased in size and breadth which promises to be an event not to be missed by over the nine years of his time as a Council Member. anyone remotely interested in military medicine. The He has been president during our two Joint Health symposium program is coming together and some Symposia and has committed us to a third in 2010. innovations in our programming are anticipated with 2009 has also seen us combine with Controversies in discipline streaming of presentations for all sections of Civil and Military Trauma, enhancing the conference the health community. for both groups. Russ has led Council through a review Our Journal remains a fundamental function of of AMMA’s corporate governance and enhanced the the Association and the Council is committed to its way we proceed with our day to day management. publication and improvement. We would encourage The major part of this is an updating and review of anyone in the military community to submit an article our constitution which will be addressed through an for publication whether it is a randomised control Extraordinary General Meeting shortly. By far his trial or a case report; from medical officers to medical greatest legacy has been to have the vision to start the assistants. The journal is willing to assist, mentor, and process to transform our Journal into a world class peer encourage first time and junior authors, as it has an reviewed publication with an international editorial extensive editorial and consultative board. advisory board. He leaves the journal in a healthy state as is the association. Indeed the Association owes Finally, 2010 finds the Association with a strong much to Russ and we wish him the best in the future. and stable membership base which has enabled it Further to Russ’ resignation, this left a vacancy in the to function effectively through the global economic executive which has been kindly filled by Stephanie downturn. However, we should be under no illusion Hodson, and Andrew Robertson has taken over the that this position is immutable. Continued stability is