Surviving multi-trauma in the past.
BACKGROUND
Surviving multi-trauma is strongly associated with emergent resuscitation and treatment in modern medical facilities. Multi-trauma survival before the advent of modern medicine is likely to have been extremely uncommon, particularly in primitive societies. The aim of this study was to investigate the case of an ancient Australian Aboriginal who appeared to have survived multi-trauma.


METHODS
We investigated the skeletal remains of an adult Australian Aboriginal with healed fractures of the right femur and humerus. The time of death was assessed by carbon dating. The sex and approximate age of the subject were assessed from the skeleton's morphometry. The fractured bones were assessed by visual inspection, plain radiographs and computer tomography (CT) scanning.


RESULTS
The remains were of a male aged approximately 50 years at the time of his death, approximately 1000 years ago, preceding European settlement. Analysis of the malunions indicated that all fractures occurred in one traumatic event, normally a life-threatening injury combination, and that the subject survived for years after this incident, despite no or failed active treatment of his fractures.


CONCLUSIONS
The survival of a man living in a primitive society after multi-trauma reflects an impressive depth of nursing and social support in a community of hunter gatherers.
South Australian Museum, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia.
Brian
B
Cornish
Lucian Bogdan
LB
Solomon
Keryn
K
Walshe
D001315:Australia; D002102:Cadaver; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005580:Fossils; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed