Mortality from wounds was very variable. In WWI wounds to the head and neck, the abdomen and the chest resulted in a very high mortality; 75% has been quoted.

“Flesh wounds” to the extremities were less likely to result in death.

Since the use of blood transfusion, antibiotics and standardised surgical techniques gained widespread acceptance in the middle of WWII survival of those wounded who reached a surgical facility has been consistently remarkably high.