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Orthopaedic Problems in the Critically Injured Patient

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Trauma and Combat Critical Care in Clinical Practice

Part of the book series: In Clinical Practice ((ICP))

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Abstract

Polytrauma patients present significant challenges to intensivists and orthopaedic surgeons and benefit from a team approach to management. The challenges of identifying missed injuries, mitigating the risks of spinal injury, and the timing of multiple operations can only be overcome by careful and thorough shared care.

Once a patient is established on a treatment pathway, there are several avoidable and unavoidable complications, which ideally should be spotted early and treated urgently to avoid undesirable outcomes. Compartment syndrome remains one of the commonest and most challenging complications to detect, particularly in obtunded patients. Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion and be prepared to institute compartment pressure monitoring early. Rhabdomyolysis and fat embolism syndrome can also complicate management of the polytrauma patient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma, Royal Centre for Defence Medical, Birmingham, UK

    Edward Spurrier BM MD (Res) MRCS FRCS (Tr&Orth)

  2. Trauma and Orthopaedics Portsmouth NHS Trust, Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (Research and Academia), Birmingham, UK

    Sarah A. Stapley MB ChB FRCS FRCS (Tr&Orth) DM

Authors
  1. Edward Spurrier BM MD (Res) MRCS FRCS (Tr&Orth)
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  2. Sarah A. Stapley MB ChB FRCS FRCS (Tr&Orth) DM
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Correspondence to Edward Spurrier BM MD (Res) MRCS FRCS (Tr&Orth) .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Navy and King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom

    Sam D. Hutchings

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Spurrier, E., Stapley, S.A. (2016). Orthopaedic Problems in the Critically Injured Patient. In: Hutchings, S. (eds) Trauma and Combat Critical Care in Clinical Practice. In Clinical Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28758-4_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28758-4_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28756-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28758-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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