title: Orthopaedic trauma for the general orthopaedist: avoiding problems and pitfalls in treatment.
abstract: The Advanced Trauma Life Support program of the American College of Surgeons has developed a de facto standard of care for the first hour of treatment of patients with trauma who are treated in North America. No equivalent for the treatment of orthopaedic trauma has been established. We provide an overview of the important topics every orthopaedist treating patients with musculoskeletal trauma should be familiar with. The topics include: (1) diagnosis of musculoskeletal injury and documentation of physical exam; (2) pelvic ring injuries; (3) open fractures; (4) compartment syndrome; (5) the timing of definitive fixation in the patient with polytrauma; (6) delayed diagnosis of musculoskeletal injury; and (7) deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3889, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Olson016@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rhorer
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008021:Life Support Systems; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D009656:North America; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy