Polytrauma

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Polytrauma is a medical term describing the condition of a person who has been subjected to multiple traumatic injuries, such as a serious head injury AND a serious burn.

The term has become common among US military doctors in describing the seriously injured soldiers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). The term however is generic, and has been in use for a long time for any case involving multiple traumata.

Contents 1 Civilian medicine 1.1 Overview 2 Military medicine 2.1 Overview 2.2 U.S. treatment 3 References

[edit] Civilian medicine

[edit] Overview

In civilian life, polytraumas are usually associated with motor vehicle accidents. A retrospective study of 93 children (average age of 8.0 +/- 4.1 years) with polytrauma and at least one major musculoskeletal injury shoved that 80% of the incidents had been caused in this way.^[1]

[edit] Military medicine

[edit] Overview

Polytrauma often results from blast injuries sustained by improvised explosive devices, or by a hit with a rocket-propelled grenade, with "Improvised explosive devices, blasts, landmines, and fragments account[ing] for 65 percent of combat injuries...".^[2] The combination of high-pressure waves, explosive fragments, and falling debris may produce multiple injuries including brain injury, loss of limbs, burns, fractures, blindness and hearing loss,^[3] with 60 percent of those injured in this way having some degree of traumatic brain injury.^[2]

In some ways, the existence of polytrauma is in fact a sign of medical advancement, for in previous wars, soldiers with such multiple damage types simply did not survive in most cases, even if quickly transferred into hospital care. The downside is however that many of the victims, though surviving, will never fully regain their physical or mental form. They are also prone to post traumatic stress disorder.^[2]

[edit] U.S. treatment

There are currently four clinics in the US specialising in polytrauma. They are managed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and are located in Minneapolis, Minn., Palo Alto, Calif., Richmond, Va. and Tampa, Florida.^[3] In addition to the actual intensive care insofar as still required, these hospitals mainly specialise in rehabilitative treatment.

The treatment and rehabilitative care for polytrauma patients is a very extensive and time-consuming activity. The recommended staffing numbers (FTE = Full Time Equivalent) for six rehabilitation treatment beds are:^[2]

0.5 FTE - Physician Discipline FTE Rehabilitation 5.5 FTE - Registered Nurse (1.0 must be CRRN) 4.0 FTE - Licensed Practical Nurse and/or Certified Nursing Assistant 0.5 FTE - Nurse Manager 0.5 FTE - Clinical Case Manager, Admission and Follow-up 1.0 FTE - Social Worker Case Manager 0.5 FTE - Social Worker

1.0 FTE - Speech-Language Pathologist 1.0 FTE - Physical Therapist 1.0 FTE - Occupational Therapist 0.5 FTE - Recreation Therapist 0.5 FTE - Counseling Psychologist 0.5 FTE - Neuropsychologist

In other words - 2.8 people are required full time for every patient, often for months, while some care may be required for decades.

[edit] References

1. ^ Factors predictive of immobilization Complications in pediatric polytrauma - Loder, Randall T. et al, Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2001, vol. 15, no5, pp. 338-341
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Polytrauma Rehabilitation Procedures - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbook, Thursday September 22 2005
3. ^ ^{a b} President's Project: Support for VAMC Polytrauma Centers (from the American Legion Auxiliary website)