ABSTRACT
Spinal trauma and its cost in health-care dollars continue to increase, especially in developed countries where high-speed transportation and high-speed recreation are on the increase. In first-, second-, and third-world countries, violence also contributes heavily to the spine trauma population. Trauma remains a disease that represents a leading cause of death in the first four decades of life. Trauma also permanently disables many members of society at an estimated cost of 100 billion dollars annually. Emergency treatment of spine and multiple traumas represents the first opportunity to successfully impact ultimate outcomes of the injury.
