Trauma surgeons treat conditions such as torn cruciate ligaments, broken bones, and herniated discs, among others. Patients usually require surgical treatment. The range of treatments extends from simple procedures to complex, often multiple, surgeries. Here you will find further information as well as a selection of trauma surgery specialists and centers.
Trauma surgery is a medical specialty that deals with the surgical treatment of patients who have been in accidents. This includes
Because it focuses on trauma to the musculoskeletal system, trauma surgery is closely linked to orthopedics and traumatology. The musculoskeletal system includes
Patient care is provided
Trauma surgery specialists are generally designated as board-certified specialists in orthopedics and trauma surgery.
To earn this title, aspiring trauma surgeons must have completed at least six years of specialized training. During this time, trauma surgery specialists acquire in-depth knowledge in the fields of orthopedic surgery and traumatology.
A model training regulation issued by the German Medical Association specifies which examination and treatment procedures must be performed and how frequently. These include, for example, at least 200 surgical procedures of various types.
After completing their board certification, trauma surgery specialists may also pursue additional training in advanced trauma surgery. This focuses on the treatment of highly complex injuries (e.g., critically injured patients with polytrauma) and their sequelae, as well as the
of treatment for severely injured patients.
Trauma surgeons frequently treat acute injuries © kokliang1981 | AdobeStock
In the field of sports accidents and sports injuries, patients with
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Recreational accidents are not uncommon among seniors due to age-related factors (e.g., femoral neck fractures and vertebral fractures) and among children (e.g., arm fractures).
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A specialized clinic for trauma surgery and traumatology is particularly necessary when treating critically injured patients with polytrauma or traumatic brain injury.
Such a trauma center is equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology for diagnostics and initial care. This enables medical professionals to quickly assess the condition of a critically injured patient with polytrauma and initiate initial therapeutic measures.
Each examination typically begins with a medical history and a clinical examination. Often, trauma surgeons can already make a preliminary diagnosis at this stage.
With the help of imaging techniques, this diagnosis can then be confirmed or ruled out. In particular,
play a major role. CT and MRI are usually not available at private practices but, due to space requirements, are only found at specialized hospitals.
In trauma surgery, imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging are frequently used © Nejron Photo | AdobeStock
These diagnostic procedures provide trauma surgery specialists with precise information about the extent of any bone fractures or other internal injuries.
In most cases, injuries requiring trauma surgery can only be treated through surgical intervention within the field of orthopedic surgery.
This can range from simple surgical procedures for uncomplicated bone fractures or minor trauma to extensive and repeated surgeries for critically injured patients with polytrauma. Specialists from other medical fields are often involved in the care of polytrauma patients.
Conservative treatments play a secondary role in initial care. However, drug therapies for pain relief or to reduce inflammation, for example, may be necessary.
Following surgery, physical therapy is often required, for example, to mobilize immobilized joints or extremities. Unless there is a compelling indication for surgery, conservative treatments may help avoid procedures that are not absolutely necessary.
Electrotherapy or stimulation current therapy, for example,
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Every physician listed in the Leading Medicine Guide has attained the highest level of training and certification within their respective medical specialty society. Furthermore, we contacted this physician based, among other factors, on their case volume (surgeries, treatments, and therapies), which we determined by cross-referencing various publicly available sources. Following discussions with the selected physicians and the directors of the medical facilities, as well as a subsequent internal review, they were admitted to the Leading Medicine Guide.
The quality assurance of the Leading Medicine Guide is further ensured by 8 admission criteria. Each member must meet at least 6 of them:
