Updates and best practices in polytrauma

Polytrauma is a leading cause of mortality and disability world-wide accounting for nearly 9% of deaths annually.¹ Mortality apart, polytrauma is an economic burden with prolonged intensive care and hospitalisation and a social problem with numerous workdays lost and cost of care of the disabled. Timely, appropriate and multimodal disciplinary management is essential to reduce mortality and improve outcomes.

This special issue on polytrauma in Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics & Trauma has been planned to focus the attention on this important topic and discuss the current principles involved in the management by experts. Apart from a crisp discussion on the evolving concepts and strategies in the management of polytrauma patients,² there is an article on ‘What is new and what is true in polytrauma management’ by Christopher Pape et al.,³ one of the internationally acclaimed thought leaders on this subject. Time is essential to prevent mortality and the pearls in radiological diagnosis and interventions are provided in a concised article by Dr B T Pushpa.⁴ Management of hemorrhagic shock and pelvic injuries in haemodynamically unstable patients are also well detailed.⁵ Apart from life-threatening injuries, the articles on safe anaesthesia in this demanding situation and prudent management of spinal and extremity injuries complete the coverage of this demanding topic.

‘One ounce of prevention is worth more than one pound of treatment’. This is true in polytrauma. India unfortunately now has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of road accidents and related mortality and morbidity. The value of social advocacy in preventing accidents at a national and local level has also been detailed.⁶

I congratulate Dr Raju Vaishya, Chief Editor, Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics & Trauma for choosing this highly relevant topic for a special issue and I also thank him for allowing me the privilege of being the guest editor for this issue.