Letter to Chair Rodney Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Peter Visclosky of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee - Funds for Orthopaedic Research

Letter

Dear Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky:

We are writing to respectfully request inclusion of $30 million for peer-reviewed orthopaedic research in the FY 2016 Defense Appropriations legislation. Peer-reviewed orthopaedic research has been authorized in the past and has received funding in previous Defense Appropriations legislation as well as supplemental appropriations through two programs: first through the Orthopaedic Extremity Trauma Research Program (OETRP), and recently through the Peer-Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program (PRORP). These programs have become critical to the treatment of our wounded servicemen and woman returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and an increase in program funding is essential to fulfilling the debt of gratitude we owe to those who protect our freedom. This program (PRORP) is peer reviewed and awarded through a competitive grant program to ensure the most efficient use of resources.

A U.S. Army analysis of soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan shows that extremity injuries account for the greatest proportion of medical resource utilization and cause the greatest number of disabled soldiers--indeed, about 82 percent of the injuries in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom involve the extremities. In fact, soldiers with extremity injuries had the longest average inpatient stays and accounted for 65 percent of total inpatient resource utilization and 64 percent of projected disability benefits costs in the future. The projected disability cost for extremity injuries sustained in this conflict to date, exclusive of any short or long-term medical costs, is approximately $1.2 billion.

The need for this research has never been greater and more immediate. I am hopeful that the Subcommittee will provide $30 million in the FY 2016 Defense Appropriations legislation to ensure this important work can continue to assist those who have made tremendous sacrifices while defending the United States of America.

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