Trauma surgery is a surgical specialty that utilizes both operative and non-operative management to treat traumatic injuries, typically in an acute setting. Trauma surgeons generally complete residency training in General Surgery and often fellowship training in trauma or surgical critical care.

Trauma surgery is a fast-paced and demanding practice that has very little time for the lengthy discussions that may otherwise be seen in some medical consultations. The trauma surgeon generally undergoes training after completion of a basic medical degree.

A large number of advances in trauma and critical care have led to an increasing frequency of non-operative care for injuries to the neck, chest, and abdomen. Most injuries requiring operative treatment are musculoskeletal. For this reason, part of US trauma surgeons devotes at least some of their practice to general surgery. In most American university hospitals and medical centers, a significant portion of the emergency general surgery calls are taken by trauma surgeons. The field combining trauma surgery and emergency general surgery is often called acute care surgery.

In most jurisdictions, trauma surgeons are adequately trained and equipped to identify and handle injuries to the head and neck, abdominal area, chest, legs, feet, arms and hands. Any patient that has experienced traumatic physical injury may be seen by a trauma specialist.

Methods used to assess the extent of injury include radiographic X-rays and CT-scans as well as MRI’s. With these tools the surgeon is able to identify damage to internal organs and hemorrhaging. Trauma surgeons work closely with emergency staff in the resuscitative and stabilization efforts of the patient.

Airway patency, breathing, circulation and necessary drugs are the key parameters controlled. Triage care at admission checks typical details, such as the patient’s vital signs, age and history or pre-existing conditions, like cardiopulmonary diseases. Laboratory tests, like blood tests, may be necessary, as well as intravenous access lines and equipment for monitoring vital signs.

The most serious complication that may arise is the death of the patient. The probability of this increases with increasing severity of the injury and the facility’s inability to handle the type of emergency and/ or stabilize the patient.

Failure to provide trauma surgery immediately in cases where it is required may lead to a wide range of long-term problems, which include, but are not limited to, limb amputation, internal organ damage, neurological deficits and loss of function. Fortunately, advances in medicine and technology over the past few decades have allowed for the improvement of understanding the events that cause morbidity and mortality in severe injuries.

Editorial Team
Trauma & Acute Care
Email: traumares@neurologyjournals.org
Ph No:  +1-213-204-5002
London ,United Kingdom