Background After a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have observed an increase in combat-related injury survival and a paradoxical increase in injury severity, mainly because of the effects of blasts. These severe injuries have a devastating effect on each patient's immune system resulting in massive upregulation of the systemic inflammatory response. By examining inflammatory mediators, preliminary data suggest that it may be possible to correlate complications such as wound failure and heterotopic ossification (HO) with distinct systemic and local inflammatory profiles, but this is a relatively new topic. Questions/purposes We asked whether systemic or local markers of inflammation could be used as an objective means, independent of demographic and subjective factors, to estimate the likelihood of (1) HO and/or (2) wound failure (defined as wounds requiring surgical débridement after definitive closure, or wounds that were not closed or covered within 21 days of injury) in patients sustaining combat wounds. Methods Two hundred combat wounded active-duty service members who sustained high-energy extremity The institution of one or more of the authors (JAF) has received, during the study period, funding from a grant from the Orthopaedic Trauma Research Program (OTRP) and the US Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Advance Medical Development Program. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research neither advocates nor endorses the use of any treatment, drug, or device. Readers are encouraged to always seek additional information, including FDAapproval status, of any drug or device prior to clinical use. Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained. This work was performed at the Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA, and the National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA. The views expressed this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the U.S. Government. This study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at both the National Military Medical Center and Naval Medical Research Center in compliance with all applicable Federal regulations governing the protection of human subjects. One or more of the authors is a military service member (or employee of the U.S. Government). This work was prepared as part of his or her official duties. Title 17 U.S.C §105 provides that 'Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government.' Title 17 U.S.C §101 defines a U.S. Government work as a work prepared by a military service ...