Has the trauma surgeon become house staff for the surgical subspecialist?
BACKGROUND
The role of the trauma surgeon is perceived to be mostly supportive of other procedure-oriented specialties. We designed this study to characterize the surgical and nonsurgical responsibilities of the contemporary trauma surgeon.


METHODS
Trauma patients admitted to an urban academic level I trauma center were studied using trauma registry data for 2004.


RESULTS
The large majority of patients admitted to trauma service has mild single-system injuries to 1 or 2 anatomic regions. Most (57%) did not have injuries to the neck, chest, or abdomen. Head and extremity injuries were present in 45% and 46% of patients, respectively. Surgeries were performed by orthopedists in 28%, trauma surgeons in 11%, and neurosurgeons in 6% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The contemporary trauma surgeon has little surgical opportunity and provides a disproportionate amount of nonsurgical care in support of consultant specialists. This is a major deterrent to general surgeon interest in trauma care and must be addressed as the acute-care surgeon evolves.
Ciesla
David J
DJ
Department of Surgery, Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving St. NW, Suite 4B-39, Washington, DC 20005, USA. David.J.Ciesla@Medstar.net <David.J.Ciesla@Medstar.net>
Moore
Ernest E
EE
Cothren
C Clay
CC
Johnson
Jeffery L
JL
Burch
Jon M
JM
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010819:Physician's Role; D012042:Registries; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014194:Traumatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population