Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/808388

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Title
The definition of polytrauma: the need for international consensus
Author/Creator
Butcher, Nerida;  Balogh, Zsolt J.
Institution
The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Health, School of Medicine and Public Health
Description
Introduction: Polytrauma patients represent the ultimate challenge to trauma care and the optimisation of their care is a major focus of clinical and basic science research. A universally accepted definition for polytrauma is vital for comparing datasets and conducting multicentre trials. The purpose of this review is to identify and evaluate the published definitions of the term "polytrauma". Materials and Methods: A literature search was conducted for the time period January 1950-August 2008. The Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched using the keyword "polytrauma". Articles were evaluated without language exclusion for the occurrence of the word "polytrauma" in the text and the presence of a subsequent definition. Relevant online resources and medical dictionaries were also reviewed. Results: A total of 1,665 publications used the term polytrauma, 47 of which included a definition of the term. The available definitions can be divided into eight groups according to the crux of the definition. No uniformly used consensus definition exists. None of the existing definitions were found to be validated or supported by evidence higher than Level 4. Conclusion: This review identified the lack of a validated or consensus definition of the term polytrauma. The international trauma community should consider establishing a consensus definition for polytrauma, which could be validated prospectively and serve as a basis for future research.
Relation
Injury: International Journal of the Care of the Injured Vol. 40, Issue S4, p. S12-S22
Publisher Link
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2009.10.032
Date
2009
Publisher
Elsevier
Keyword(s)
polytrauma;  definition;  multiple organ failure;  injury severity score
Resource Type
journal article
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/808388
Identifier
ISSN:0020-1383
Reviewed
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Subject
"Injury: International Journal of the Care of the Injured"
 
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