ABSTRACT

In several chapters the importance of life-threatening trauma is emphasised, but numerically for every patient that dies following a traumatic event, there are three that are left with a lifelong functional impairment. Appropriate treatment of extremity trauma is important to return the patient to optimal function as quickly and as safely as possible. The management of extremity trauma is step-wise and involves initially saving the patient’s life by the identification and treatment of life and limb threatening injuries first, according