Trauma Specialist

What is trauma?

Trauma is a category of injury that threatens your life and requires immediate and often complex medical care. Traumatic injuries typically come from some form of extreme blunt force impact or a penetrating wound. 

Traumatic injuries damage one or more organs inside of your body, including your brain, heart, and other organs that need to function properly in order for you to survive. To repair these organs, surgeons must work quickly and make fast, accurate decisions within moments during the operation. If the trauma is widespread, they need to decide which injuries to prioritize and treat first.

Typically, surgery for trauma requires more than one surgeon on a team. The surgeons and other providers, like paramedics, nurses, anesthetists, and others, work together to make repairs while keeping you stable. At Associated Surgical Center, the trauma team works very hard from the time you come in with your injuries until you eventually recover. 

What causes trauma?

There are numerous potential accidents and incidents that can cause trauma within your body. They almost always happen very suddenly, and you can’t predict or anticipate them. Common causes of traumatic injuries include:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle or bicycle accidents
• Gunshots
• Stabbings
• Assaults
• Falls from extreme heights
• Crush injuries

The extent of your injuries depends on the severity of the incident, your age, and your overall medical condition. An accident that causes minor injuries for a younger person might cause severe internal trauma for an older person or a baby. 

What are some common trauma surgeries?

There are many types of traumatic injuries, and you might not realize what kinds of treatments you need or what types of injuries you have until the repairs are complete. The team at Associated Surgical Center provides many surgeries to repair trauma, including:

Craniotomy

Your brain is an essential organ, so it will likely be addressed first if you have traumatic injuries. During a craniotomy, the team opens your skull to remove a blood clot and relieve pressure.

Craniectomy

During a craniectomy, the team removes part of your skull to give your brain room to swell. They replace it at a later date when there is less swelling. 

Laparotomy

A laparotomy is a surgery to open your abdomen. The team uses it to repair organs and blood vessels accessible through your abdomen.

Thoracotomy

A thoracotomy opens your chest. The team might use it to access and repair trauma in your lungs. 

If you or a loved one has experienced a recent trauma, call Associated Surgical Center or book an appointment online today.