Trauma surgery

Trauma surgery

Trauma surgery is a special kind of medical help for people who have been badly hurt in accidents or injuries. Doctors who work in this area are called trauma surgeons. They learn a lot about surgery and caring for very sick patients. They often finish extra training after their basic medical studies to become experts.

When someone is badly injured, a trauma surgeon is one of the first doctors to help. They work quickly to make sure the patient is safe before looking closely at the injuries. Trauma surgeons lead a team of medical workers, including nurses and other doctors, especially in hospitals where they teach other doctors.

Their job is very important because they help save lives and support patients when they need it most. By working with their team, trauma surgeons make sure that every patient gets the best care possible right away.

Training

Most trauma surgeons work in big hospitals. They do extra training for 1 to 2 years to learn how to care for very sick patients. After training, they might take a test to show they are qualified.

Getting this training can be hard. In the US, there are special classes like the Advanced Trauma Operative Management course and the Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma course. These classes help surgeons learn how to treat serious injuries. Doctors who care for people with serious injuries also need to take the Advanced Trauma Life Support course.

Responsibilities

Trauma surgeons help treat injuries to the neck, chest, belly, and arms or legs. In some places, they also care for injuries to bones and muscles. But in the US and Britain, bone injuries are usually handled by orthopedic surgeons, and face injuries by maxillofacial surgeons. Other doctors, like cardiothoracic surgeons, plastic surgeons, vascular surgeons, and interventional radiologists, may also help depending on the hospital.

These surgeons need to know many different ways to do surgery and make quick decisions with limited information. They must also be skilled in intensive care medicine. Their work hours can be irregular, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Most patients who come to trauma centers have several injuries at once. The trauma surgeon decides which treatments are needed first and creates a plan to care for the patient. This begins when the patient arrives at the hospital and continues through the operating room, intensive care unit, and recovery rooms. Patients are checked using set rules to find and treat life-threatening problems right away. After that, other injuries are taken care of.

Main articles: neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, plastic surgeons, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, intensive care medicine, intensive care unit, triage

Acute care surgery

In recent years, there have been many improvements in treating injuries. Now, doctors often use treatments that are not surgery for injuries to the neck, chest, and abdomen. Most injuries that still need surgery are related to bones and muscles. Because of this, many trauma surgeons also work in general surgery. In big hospitals in the United States, trauma surgeons often help with emergencies in general surgery. The mix of trauma surgery and emergency general surgery is called acute care surgery.

History

Dr. George E. Goodfellow is known as the first civilian trauma surgeon in the United States. He started his medical practice in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, in November 1880 and worked there for 11 years.

In July 1881, U.S. President Garfield was shot, and soon after, a miner was also shot outside Tombstone. On July 13, 1881, Goodfellow performed the first recorded laparotomy to help the miner, who had serious injuries. The miner survived, but President Garfield could not be saved.

Goodfellow treated many famous people during his time, including outlaw cowboys in Tombstone, Arizona. He also cared for Deputy U.S. Marshal Virgil Earp and his brother Morgan Earp after they were hurt during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Goodfellow was known for using clean methods, washing wounds and his hands with soap or whisky, which was new at the time. Today, laparotomy is still used to treat serious belly injuries.

In the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, trauma surgery is a special part of general surgery. At the Royal London Hospital, the busiest place for helping people with serious injuries in Britain and all of Europe, the doctors who work there often come from a background in vascular surgery.

People who want to become trauma surgeons in the UK can take special courses. These include the advanced trauma life support and Definitive Surgical Trauma Skills courses, which are offered by the Royal College of Surgeons.