This guide provides practical information on the care of patients with blunt injuries that will be invaluable for emergency personnel, trauma surgeons, orthopaedic traumatologists, and anesthesiologists. The management of both truncal injuries (head, chest, abdomen) and fractures of the extremities, the pelvis, and the spine is covered in a condensed fashion, emphasizing key information. Care is taken to highlight associated injuries that may alter the decision making in patients with polytrauma. The new, revised edition takes full account of three major developments of recent years, namely the increasing economic pressure on health care systems, including trauma care, the changes in trauma systems and related education, and the improved survival of polytrauma patients. In view of the greater recognition of the physical and psychological long-term sequelae of major injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder is discussed in depth in this new edition.

Impact of trauma on society

Economic aspects of trauma care
Evidence based otthopaedic trauma care
Inflammatory changes and coagulopathy multiply injured patients
Pathophysiology of polytrauma
Head injuries - neurosurgical and orthopaedic strategies
Soft tissue injuries
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
The elderly polytrauma patient
General management in elderly: preoperative and ICU
Polytrauma in young children
Fracture management in pregnancy
Open fractures - initial management
Vascular injuries: Indications for stents, timing of vascular and orthopaedic surgery
Management of articular fractures
Nerve injuries in the face of adjacent 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
Treatment of osteomyelitis, acte and chronic
Management of malunions and nonunions in patients with multiple injuries
Psychological squelae after severe trauma
Outcome after extremity injuries
Outcome pelvis and spine.