title: Recent developments in the assessment of the multiply injured trauma patient.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an update on the recent developments and controversies in the assessment of the traumatically injured patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent literature suggests that: whole-body computed tomography (CT) is an effective strategy in more severely injured blunt trauma patients; 64-slice CT scanning now provides an effective noninvasive screening method for blunt cerebrovascular injury; the need for MRI imaging, in addition to CT, for the diagnosis of occult ligamentous injury of the cervical spine remains an unresolved controversy; point-of-care testing has made significant improvements in our ability to predict which patients will need a massive transfusion; and thromboelastography has enhanced our ability to tailor a hemostatic resuscitation more accurately.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recent advances in the assessment of the multiply injured patient allow clinicians to more efficiently diagnose a patient's injuries and implement treatment in a more timely manner.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco and San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Campion
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mackersie
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014218:Triage; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis