Chapter 17 - Management of Acute Trauma

Abstract

The management of acute trauma requires a rapid, yet thorough, assessment of the injured patient with careful physical examination and efficient diagnostics. The trends in patient physiology and responses to treatment are the key tools that will lead to life-saving decisions. Despite tremendous advances in management, trauma remains the leading cause of death for individuals under the age of 45, representing a huge volume of lost years. Trauma deaths account for more than the other top 10 causes of death combined. In all ages, trauma is the fourth leading cause of mortality in the United States and the third largest contributor to the burden of disease globally. These numbers highlight the impact that trauma care can have on the population as a whole and the importance of ongoing evolution within the specialty.