Damage Control Principles Research Articles

Peculiarities of treatment of maxillofacial polytrauma during wartime.

Aim: Analyzing of the last-time papers in this subject in organizing, diagnostic and surgery tactic is the aim of this work. Materials and Methods: The study analyzed the experience of treating patients with maxillofacial polytrauma before and after February 24, 2022. Research methods: bibliographic, systematic, comparative, general clinical, radiological and retrospective analysis. Conclusions: Tactic of the multidisciplinal team should based on the principles of damage control, which involves the initial performance of manipulations and surgical interventions that ensure the patient's survival. Modern strategies for infusion-transfusion therapy play a significant role in severe trauma cases. Choosing the rational management of this therapy for severe trauma remains an important issue. Reconstructive surgeries are recommended to be performer deferred, after surgical wound management, neurosurgical interventions and stabilization of the patient common status. Patients with maxillofacial polytrauma needs in specialized medical care at all the levels. Active wound management aimed at creating favorable conditions for healing, comprehensive medical treatment, prevention, early detection and timely treatment of complications.

Evaluation and Management of Traumatic Rectal Injury.

Traumatic injury to the rectum is rare but associated with high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, diagnostic and treatment recommendations for these complex injuries have changed. While rare, it is critical for general surgeons to understand the basic principles of injury assessment, damage control, and definitive management of traumatic rectal injuries. This article reviews the literature regarding the evaluation and management of traumatic rectal injuries.

Options to Determine the Time for Conversion Osteosynthesis in Patients With Multiple Trauma

Objective: To reduce the complication rate in patients with multiple trauma (including bone fractures) by objectifying criteria that allow conversion from the external fixator to the definitive osteosynthesis.Materials and methods: The study was based on a retrospective analysis of the treatment outcomes in 308 patients (18­60 years, males and females) with multiple trauma and no apparent comorbidity.All patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the treatment outcomes. The therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in both groups were equal and compliant with the current standards and guidelines. Surgical treatment was performed according to the damage control principles in orthopedics.As the groups were statistically comparable, their data could be used for an accurate comparative statistical analysis.Results: The statistical analysis of the treatment outcomes in patients from all the groups demonstrated the possibility of using the SOFA scale to determine the conversion time. In patients who underwent conversion osteosynthesis, with comparable severity of injuries according to the NISS scale, a SOFA score >10 points right prior to the surgery was associated with the maximum number of complications including mortality. A SOFA score <6 points right prior to the surgery was associated with significantly lower number of complications and no mortality.Conclusions: Objective tools for assessing the severity of the condition, such as the SOFA scale, will allow to customize the approach to the time of conversion osteosynthesis in patients with multiple trauma and improve the treatment outcomes in general.

Damage Control Resuscitation in Pediatric Trauma: What You Need to Know.

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Surgical management of spontaneous hepatic rupture associated with HELLP syndrome. Case presentation and literature review

Background: HELLP syndrome is a serious complication in pregnancy characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count occurring in 0.2 to 0.6% of all pregnancies and in 10–20% of cases with severe preeclampsia. Spontaneous hepatic capsular rupture is a rare (0,015% of all pregnancies), but a life-threatening complication of HELLP syndrome with a mortality rate of up 50% for both mother and infant. Methods: We present the case of a 34-year-old nulliparous woman with a second trimester gestational hepatic rupture associated with HELLP syndrome. A systematic literature search was conducted on database of PubMed, Scopus, Medline and Embase. Results: Spontaneous hepatic rupture is an infrequent but life-threatening condition of pregnancy associated with severe pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion. Abdominal CT with intravenous contrast is considered to be the best diagnostic method. The management of this pathology requires a multidisciplinary approach between gynecologists, general surgeons and intensive care physicians. The main therapeutic objectives are: eliminate the causal factor, end the pregnancy and control hemorrhage. If there is not hepatic rupture and the patient is hemodynamically stable, conservative nonoperative management for selected patients has been recommended. However, if the patient presents hemodynamic instability despite adequate resuscitation or hemoperitoneum, it has been seen that surgery significantly reduces the mortality associated with this pathology. Conclusions: Hepatic subcapsular hematoma and hepatic rupture are infrequent but life-threatening complications that can occur during pregnancy and are fundamentally related to pathologies such as preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. The first step is to end the pregnancy and subsequently control the acute liver problem. Different surgical techniques have been described that should be individualized for each patient according to damage control principles. A high index of suspicion and prompt recognition allows a multidisciplinary approach and mortality can be reduced. Study type: Therapeutic/care management.

Application of damage control tactics in combat injuries of limbs at the advanced stages of medical evacuation in modern war settings (literature review)

Relevance. Limb injuries occupy the first place in the structure of modern combat injuries and are one of the main reasons for the decline in fitness for military service and disability. In the conditions of conducting largescale hostilities, the role of the advanced stages of medical evacuation, where surgical care is provided according to the principles of damage control, increases. Features of the tactics of damage control in combat injuries of the extremities determine the need for special training of military surgeons.The objective is to consider the features and effectiveness of the provision of surgical care according to the principles of damage control in combat injuries of the extremities at the advanced stages of medical evacuation in armed conflicts of the last two decades (in the countries of the Middle East and Africa, Afghanistan, Ukraine).Methodology. A search was made for scientific articles in the PubMed database and the Scientific Electronic Library (eLIBRARY.ru), published from 2013 to 2023.Results and Discussion. Modern combat trauma of the extremities is characterized by a high frequency of vascular damage, extensive destruction of soft tissues and bones from the impact of damaging factors of explosive ammunition. Surgical interventions for combat injuries of the extremities (external fixation of bone fractures with rod devices, ligation or temporary vascular shunt of damaged vessels, fasciotomy, amputation) were the most frequent of all operations performed at the advanced stages of medical evacuation during modern military conflicts. The volume of surgical interventions corresponded to the first stage of orthopedics and vascular control of injuries and was determined by the severity of the condition of the wounded, the degree of ischemia and severity of limb injuries, and the medical and tactical situation.Conclusion. Assistance at the advanced stages of medical evacuation according to the principles of orthopedics and vascular damage control can significantly reduce the frequency of amputations and improve the functional results of treatment for combat injuries of the extremities.

КОМПЛЕКСНОЕ ЛЕЧЕНИЕ ПАЦИЕНТОВ СО СПАЕЧНОЙ БОЛЕЗНЬЮ БРЮШНОЙ ПОЛОСТИ

According to scientists, the formation of adhesions in the abdominal cavity is a polyetiological, multifactorial pathological process. At the same time, the use of best practices makes it possible to reduce the likelihood of progression of adhesion formation only in a narrow number of clinical cases. The aim of the study was to develop new approaches to the management of patients with abdominal adhesive disease. To solve this problem, 66 patients with abdominal adhesive disease were examined and surgically treated in the departments of emergency and minimally invasive surgery of the ME "City Clinical Hospital 2" in Minsk, who underwent surgery using laparoscopic techniQues. The complex treatment of patients is based on the positions of accelerated recovery surgery "fast-track", as well as the principle of damage control "damage control". As a result of the study, it was found that a personalized approach, the use of staged seQuential programmable laparoscopic surgical interventions based on the principle of damage control and the basic principles of accelerated recovery surgery can improve treatment outcomes.

Delayed esophagojejunostomy as a damage control principle

The authors describe 2 patients with rare gastric diseases and indications for gastrectomy with delayed esophagojejunostomy for objective causes. In one case, they could not determine extent of resection, and other patient had hemorrhagic shock. Damage control principle was applied in both cases.

Surgical treatment features of liver gunshot wound with a dumdum bullet (expanding bullet)

IntroductionLiver injury is one of the most common abdominal traumas. The causes of military activity related injuries are gunshot wounds (up to 60–70%), while in peacetime—closed blunt abdominal trauma (up to 45–55%). The overall mortality is up to 40–60% and has higher rates in the group of wartime injury, among the male population over 65 years old and of low social status.Presentation of the caseWe report the management of a clinical case of a 34-year-old man with thoracoabdominal dumdum’s bullet trauma in the case of which damage control tactics were applied in cooperation between two clinics in conditions of active hostilities.DiscussionsTreatment of patients with abdominal injuries should be guided by the principles of damage control. This tactic requires stabilization of the patient's condition at the initial stage, followed by the completion of the final volume of surgical treatment in a compensated state of the patient. Liver injuries represent an ideal model for the application of damage control surgery in wartime settings and require close coordination between clinics that perform primary and delayed surgical interventions. Minimizing the volume of surgical intervention at the stage of primary control of bleeding due to liver damage provides the most optimal immediate results in conditions of a hemodynamically unstable patients, simultaneous admission of a large number of wounded, and a limited clinic resource.ConclusionThis surgical history research is an example of the effectively organized and coordinated work of two clinics such as National Military Medical Clinical Center “Main Military Clinical Hospital” and Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantation, based on the principle of damage control in conditions of active hostilities.

How Learning from Trauma Benefits the Obstetric Population? Damage Control Surgery

Abstract The recent implementation of trauma-validated damage control strategies in severe postpartum hemorrhage proves the importance of interdisciplinary management in the obstetric patient. Massive hemorrhage control techniques and damage control surgery are clear examples of how learning from trauma can benefit the obstetric population. Currently, most obstetric programs do not include training in this type of interventions. Nevertheless, it has been shown that these interventions are useful in the management of severe postpartum hemorrhage. The aim of this article is to introduce the application of damage control surgery principles in the management of massive obstetric hemorrhage. We propose to include appropriate training and the implementation of damage control surgery in obstetric management protocols. The prompt application of damage control principles can be considered in patients with persistent hemodynamic instability despite control of the source of bleeding.

Application of Damage Control tactics in the treatment of patients with generalized peritonitis and septic shock

INTRODUCTION. Patients with peritonitis complicated by severe sepsis and septic shock determine the mortality rate of a general surgical hospital. The role and place of the Damage control technique in this category of patients remain debatable.The OBJECTIVE was to analyze the use of tactics of staged surgical treatment in patients with peritonitis and septic shock.METHODS AND MATERIALS. On the base of the Saint-Petersburg I. I. Dzhanelidze Research Institute of Emergency Medicine, we conducted a prospective randomized study of the effectiveness of various approaches to the treatment of patients with non-traumatic peritonitis and septic shock, who, after elimination of the primary source, need to restore intestinal continuity. The study included 37 patients, their mean age was (69±14) years, women were 19 (51 %). The patients were divided into 2 groups: the study group (n=14) included patients treated with the Damage Control (DC) principle, in the comparison group (n=23), primary surgery was performed in full. Both groups are representative in terms of demographics, comorbidity, severity of peritonitis and organ dysfunction.RESULTS. The groups differed significantly in the duration of preoperative preparation (p=0.028) and surgery (p=0.025). Mortality rate among patients who used DC tactics was 2 times lower (35.6 vs. 73.9 %) (p=0.038). When assessing the indicators of systemic hypoperfusion, a difference was noted in the dynamics of lactate (p=0.048) and INR (p=0.007) values during the first three days of the postoperative period. Accordingly, in patients who underwent staged treatment, there was a positive dynamics in SOFA values (p=0.049) from the 3rd day, and by the 7th day of the postoperative period in most patients, this indicator did not exceed 2 points (p=0.048). During staged surgical treatment, a constant increase in the Horvitz index was recorded from the second day of the postoperative period, while in the control group, the dynamics of this indicator was negative (p=0.041).СONCLUSIONS. Damage control tactics is safe and can be used in the treatment of general surgical patients with non-traumatic peritonitis and septic shock. Reducing the duration of preoperative preparation, reducing the volume of surgical intervention and, consequently, the duration of the operation allow reduce the time for eliminating signs of systemic hypoperfusion and organ dysfunction, which reduces the rate of death.

Physiology dictated treatment after severe trauma: timing is everything

IntroductionDamage control strategies in resuscitation and (fracture) surgery have become standard of care in the treatment of severely injured patients. It is suggested that damage control improves survival and decreases the incidence of organ failure. However, these strategies can possibly increase the risk of complications such as infections. Indication for damage control procedures is guided by physiological parameters, type of injury, and the surgeon’s experience. We analyzed outcomes of severely injured patients who underwent emergency surgery.MethodsSeverely injured patients, admitted to a level-1 trauma center ICU from 2016 to 2020 who were in need of ventilator support and required immediate surgical intervention ( ≤24 h) were included. Demographics, treatment, and outcome parameters were analyzed.ResultsHundred ninety-five patients were identified with a median ISS of 33 (IQR 25–38). Ninety-seven patients underwent immediate definitive surgery (ETC group), while 98 patients were first treated according to damage control principles with abbreviated surgery (DCS group). Although ISS was similar in both groups, DCS patients were younger, suffered from more severe truncal injuries, were more frequently in shock with more severe acidosis and coagulopathy, and received more blood products. ETC patients with traumatic brain injury needed more often a craniotomy. Seventy-four percent of DCS patients received definitive surgery in the second surgical procedure. There was no difference in mortality, nor any other outcome including organ failure and infections.ConclusionsWhen in severely injured patients treatment is dictated by physiology into either early definitive surgery or damage control with multiple shorter procedures stretched over several days combined with aggressive resuscitation with blood products, outcome is comparable in terms of complications.

Upper-Extremity Vascular Exposures for Trauma: Comparative Performance Outcomes for General Surgeons and Orthopedic Surgeons.

As combat-related trauma decreases, there remains an increasing need to maintain the ability to care for trauma victims from other casualty events around the world (e.g., terrorism, natural disasters, and infrastructure failures). During these events, military surgeons often work closely with their civilian counterparts, often in austere and expeditionary contexts. In these environments, the primary aim of the surgical team is to implement damage control principles to avert blood loss, optimize oxygenation, and improve survival. Upper-extremity vascular injuries are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality resulting from exsanguination and ischemic complications; however, fatalities may be avoided if hemorrhage is rapidly controlled. In austere contexts, deployed surgical teams typically include one general surgeon and one orthopedic surgeon, neither of which have acquired the expertise to manage these vascular injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine the baseline capabilities of general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons to surgically expose and control axillary and brachial arteries and to determine if the abilities of both groups could be increased through a focused cadaver-based training intervention. This study received IRB approval at our institution. Study methods included the use of cadavers for baseline assessment of procedural capabilities to expose and control axillary and brachial vessels, followed by 1:1 procedural training and posttraining re-assessment of procedural capabilities. Inferential analyses included ANOVA/MANOVA for within- and between-group effects (P < .05). Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d. Study outcomes demonstrated significant differences between the baseline performance abilities of the two groups, with general surgeons outperforming orthopedic surgeons. Before training, neither group reached performance benchmarks for overall or critical procedural abilities in exposing axillary and brachial vessels. Training led to increased abilities for both groups. There were statistically significant gains for overall procedural abilities, as well as for critical procedural elements that are directly associated with morbidity and mortality. These outcomes were consistent for both general and orthopedic surgeons. Effect sizes ranged between medium (general surgeons) and very large (orthopedic surgeons). There was a baseline capability gap for both general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons to surgically expose and control the axillary and brachial vessels. Outcomes from the course suggest that the methodology facilitates the acquisition of accurate and independent vascular procedural capabilities in the management of upper-extremity trauma injuries. The impact of this training for surgeons situated in expeditionary or remote contexts has direct relevance for caring for victims of extremity trauma. These outcomes underscore the need to train all surgeons serving in rural, remote, expeditionary, combat, or global health contexts to be able to competently manage extremity trauma and concurrent vascular injuries to increase the quality of care in those settings.

Severe Trauma Patients Requiring Undelayable Combined Cranial and Extra-Cranial Surgery: A Proof-of-Concept Monocentric Study.

To date, there is no evidence concerning the emergency surgical management of severe trauma patients (STP) with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) presenting a life-threatening intracranial hematoma and a concomitant extra-cranial noncompressible active bleeding. Current guidelines recommend stopping the extra-cranial bleeding first. Nevertheless, the long-term outcome of STP with STBI mainly depends from intracranial lesions. Thus, we propose a combined damage-control surgical strategy aiming to reduce the time spent with intracranial hypertension and to hasten the admission in the intensive care unit. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the benefits of combined cranial and extra-cranial surgery of STP on the long-term outcome. We retrospectively searched through the database of STBI of a level 1 trauma center facility (Sainte-Anne Military Teaching Hospital, Toulon, France) from 2007 until 2021 looking for patients who benefited from combined cranial and extra-cranial surgery in an acute setting. The research yielded 8 patients. The mean age was 35 years old (±14) and the male to female sex ratio was 1.7/1. The trauma mechanism was a fall in 50% of the cases and a traffic accident in 50% of the cases. The median Glasgow coma scale score was 8 (IQR 4) before intubation. The median Injury Severity Score was 41 (IQR 16). Seven patients (88%) presented hypovolemic shock upon admission. Six patients (75%) benefited from damage-control laparotomy among, whom 4 (67%) underwent hemostatic splenectomy. One patient benefited from drainage of tension pneumothorax, and one patient benefited from external fixator of multiple limb fractures. Seven patients (88%) benefited from decompressive craniectomy for acute subdural hematoma (5 patients) or major brain contusion (2 patients). One patient (12%) benefited from craniotomy for epidural hematoma. Three patients presented intraoperative profound hypovolemic shock. Six patients (75%) presented a favorable neurologic outcome with minor complications from extra-cranial surgeries and 2 patients died (25%). Performing combined life-saving cranial and extra-cranial surgery is feasible and safe as long as the trauma teams are trained according to the principles of damage control. It may be beneficial for the neurologic prognostic of STP with STBI requiring cranial and extra-cranial surgery.

Staged laparotomy for acute non-traumatic intra-abdominal emergencies in a tertiary South African unit.

Patients undergoing laparotomy for emergency general surgery (EGS) have poor outcomes. Attempts have been made to improve these outcomes by adopting damage control principles known to benefit polytraumatized patients. Studies describing the use of staged laparotomy (SL) in EGS have been modest in size and heterogenous. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with SL at a tertiary hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Hybrid Electronic Medical Registry (HEMR) at Greys Hospital was interrogated for all consecutive admissions undergoing staged EGS laparotomy. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. From 2012 to 2018, 242 patients (16.5% of all EGS laparotomies) underwent SL for an EGS condition. The median patient age was 38 years old (IQR 27-56 years). Physiological indications were present in 125 patients (51.7%) and non-physiological indications (NPI) in 117 (48.3%). Haemodynamic instability was the most common physiological indication (51; 21.1%) and gross contamination was the most non-physiological indication (91; 37.6%). Adverse event and mortality rates were 84.8% and 26.9%, respectively. Independent predictors of mortality were enteric breach (OR3.9; 95% CI (2.1-7.8)), physiological indication (OR 2.1; 95% CI (1.1-3.7)) and anastomosis (OR 2.0; 1.05-3.73). "Clip and drop" did not contribute to mortality (P= 0.43; OR1.34 (0.64-2.7)). Mortality was higher in the group without repeat laparotomy. Mortality rate was not associated with increasing number of relaparotomies. Patients undergoing EGS laparotomy form a high-risk group. "Clip and drop" approach and number of relaparotomies were not associated with mortality. Indications and components of this approach need to be standardized.

Primary repair: damage control surgery in esophageal trauma.

Esophageal trauma is a rare but life-threatening event associated with high morbidity and mortality. An inadvertent esophageal perforation can rapidly contaminate the neck, mediastinum, pleural space, or abdominal cavity, resulting in sepsis or septic shock. Higher complications and mortality rates are commonly associated with adjacent organ injuries and/or delays in diagnosis or definitive management. This article aims to delineate the experience obtained by the Trauma and Emergency Surgery Group (CTE) of Cali, Colombia, on the surgical management of esophageal trauma following damage control principles. Esophageal injuries should always be suspected in thoracoabdominal or cervical trauma when the trajectory or mechanism suggests so. Hemodynamically stable patients should be radiologically evaluated before a surgical correction, ideally with computed tomography of the neck, chest, and abdomen. While hemodynamically unstable patients should be immediately transferred to the operating room for direct surgical control. A primary repair is the surgical management of choice in all esophageal injuries, along with endoscopic nasogastric tube placement and immediate postoperative care in the intensive care unit. We propose an easy-to-follow surgical management algorithm that sticks to the philosophy of "Less is Better" by avoiding esophagostomas.

Crisis Containment: Tools for Harm Mitigation in Surgery

Surgical crises represent unrecognized opportunities for improving patient safety and adding value in healthcare. The first step in a crisis response is to contain and mitigate harm. While the principles of damage control are well established in surgery, methods of containing harm on broader clinical and organizational levels are not clearly defined. A multimethods qualitative study identified crisis containment strategies and tools in commercial aviation. These were translated and clinically adapted in 3 stages: semi-structured observational fieldwork with commercial airlines, interviews with senior pilots, and focus groups with both healthcare and aviation safety experts. Thematic analysis and expert consensus methods were used to derive a framework for crisis containment. Fieldwork with 2 commercial airlines identified 2 crisis containment concepts: the detrimental impact of surprising or startling events on operator performance; and the use of prioritization tools to take basic but critical actions (Aviate, Navigate and Communicate model). Twenty-two experts in aviation and healthcare practice informed the topic of crisis containment in 17 interviews and 3 focus groups. Three strategies were identified and used to form a crisis containment algorithm: 1. Manage the operators' startle response to facilitate meaningful mitigating actions (STOP tool); 2. Take priority actions to secure core functions. These included managing patients' physiologic shock, optimizing environmental risks, and mobilizing resources (Perfuse, Move and Communicate tool); 3. Deploy well-rehearsed drills targeting case-specific harms or errors (Memory Actions). This model requires validation in clinical practice. Crisis containment can be achieved by controlling operators' startle response, applying prioritization tools, and deploying drills against specific failures. The application of this model may extend to healthcare areas outside surgery.

Damage control surgery for splenic trauma: "preserve an organ - preserve a life".

The spleen is one of the most commonly injured solid organs of the abdominal cavity and an early diagnosis can reduce the associated mortality. Over the past couple of decades, management of splenic injuries has evolved to a prefered non-operative approach even in severely injured cases. However, the optimal surgical management of splenic trauma in severely injured patients remains controversial. This article aims to present an algorithm for the management of splenic trauma in severely injured patients, that includes basic principles of damage control surgery and is based on the experience obtained by the Trauma and Emergency Surgery Group (CTE) of Cali, Colombia. The choice between a conservative or a surgical approach depends on the hemodynamic status of the patient. In hemodynamically stable patients, a computed tomography angiogram should be performed to determine if non-operative management is feasible and if angioembolization is required. While hemodynamically unstable patients should be transferred immediately to the operating room for damage control surgery, which includes splenic packing and placement of a negative pressure dressing, followed by angiography with embolization of any ongoing arterial bleeding. It is our recommendation that both damage control principles and emerging endovascular technologies should be applied to achieve splenic salvage when possible. However, if surgical bleeding persists a splenectomy may be required as a definitive lifesaving maneuver.

Damage control surgical management of combined small and large bowel injuries in penetrating trauma: Are ostomies still pertinent?

Hollow viscus injuries represent a significant portion of overall lesions sustained during penetrating trauma. Currently, isolated small or large bowel injuries are commonly managed via primary anastomosis in patients undergoing definitive laparotomy or deferred anastomosis in patients requiring damage control surgery. The traditional surgical dogma of ostomy has proven to be unnecessary and, in many instances, actually increases morbidity. The aim of this article is to delineate the experience obtained in the management of combined hollow viscus injuries of patients suffering from penetrating trauma. We sought out to determine if primary and/or deferred bowel injury repair via anastomosis is the preferred surgical course in patients suffering from combined small and large bowel penetrating injuries. Our experience shows that more than 90% of all combined penetrating bowel injuries can be managed via primary or deferred anastomosis, even in the most severe cases requiring the application of damage control principles. Applying this strategy, the overall need for an ostomy (primary or deferred) could be reduced to less than 10%.

Simultaneous Casualty Admissions\u2014Do they Affect Treatment in the Receiving Trauma Center?

BackgroundSimultaneous trauma admissions expose medical professionals to increased workload. The impact of simultaneous trauma admissions on hospital allocation, therapy, and outcome is currently unclear. We hypothesized that multiple admission-scenarios impact the diagnostic pathway and outcome.MethodsThe TraumaRegister DGU® was utilized. Patients admitted between 2002–2015 with an ISS ≥ 9, treated with ATLS®- algorithms were included. Group ´IND´ included individual admissions, two individuals that were admitted within 60 min of each other were selected for group ´MULT´. Patients admitted within 10 min were considered as simultaneous (´SIM´) admissions. We compared patient and trauma characteristics, treatment, and outcomes between both groups.Results132,382 admissions were included, and 4,462/3.4% MULTiple admissions were found. The SIM-group contained 1,686/1.3% patients. The overall median injury severity score was 17 and a mean age of 48 years was found. MULT patients were more frequently admitted to level-one trauma centers (68%) than individual trauma admissions were (58%, p < 0.001). Mean time to CT-scanning (24 vs. 26/28 min) was longer in MULT / SIM patients compared to individual admissions. No differences in utilization of damage control principles were seen. Moreover, mortality rates did not differ between the groups (13.1% in regular admissions and 11.4%/10,6% in MULT/SIM patients).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that simultaneous treatment of injured patients is rare. Individuals treated in parallel with other patients were more often admitted to level-one trauma centers compared with individual patients. Although diagnostics take longer, treatment principles and mortality are equal in individual admissions and simultaneously admitted patients. More studies are required to optimize health care under these conditions.