The Poly-Traumatized Patient with Fractures

This guide provides practical information for the care of patients with blunt injuries. It covers the care for truncal injuries (head, chest, abdomen) and fracture care of the extremities, the pelvis and the spine in a condensed fashion. Unlike previous, anatomically oriented outlines, this combines the anatomic location with frequent injury combinations. It is written for orthopedic and trauma surgeons, offering them a condensed outline of fracture treatment. In addition, all aspects of trauma care are covered, including associated injuries that may alter the decision making in patients with polytrauma.

Impact of trauma on society.- Economic aspects of trauma care.- Evidence based orthopaedic trauma care.- Local inflammatory changes induced by fractures and soft tissue injuries.- Pathophysiology of polytrauma.- Head injuries – neurosurgical and orthopaedic strategies.- Nerve injuries in the face of adjacent fractures – when to explore / suture / transplant?-Chest trauma – classification and influence on the general management.- Abdominal injuries – indications for surgery.- Management of pelvic ring injuries.- Urological injuries in polytrauma.- Fracture management.- Mangled extremity: management in isolated extremity injuries and in polytrauma.- Management of spine fractures.- Polytrauma in the ancient patient.- Polytrauma in young children.- Fracture management in the pregnant patient.- Open fractures – initial management.- Vascular injuries: Indications for stents, timing of vascular and orthopaedic surgery.- Management of articular fractures.- Techniques of soft tissue coverage in open fractures- Outcome after primary amputation injuries, subtotal amputation injuries, and severe open fractures with nerve injuries.- High energy injuries caused by penetrating trauma.- Management of traumatic bone defects.- Acute soft tissue and bone infections.- Chronic osteomyelitis.- Management of malunions and nonunions in patients with multiple injuries.- PTSD and psychological squelae after severe trauma.- Late outcome after severe fractures.