Injuries can be life threatening and of primary importance.
in more than 50% of patients with the most severe trauma, musculoskeletal injuries are present.
Nearly 80% of trauma related surgeries are orthopedic in nature.
In open fractures, broken skin poses an increased risk of infection and malunion.
The most common complication of orthopedic fracture repair is surgical site infection.
Worldwide approximately 178 million persons have a limb fracture each year, including more than 1 million patients who undergo surgical fixation in the United States.
Following assessment of the airway and circulation an initial orthopedic survey is accomplished.
Immediate life or limb threatening problems are addressed after the initial assessment.
Following stabilization a radiographic evaluation is performed bases on the findings of the physical examination.
Early skeletal stabilization followed by early soft tissue reconstruction is indicted in severely injured patients, rather than delaying orthopedic procedures.
Trauma in obese patients is associated with higher morbidity and mortality (Lazar MA).
Trauma in the obese increases in the incidence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, venous thromboembolic, and infectious complications.
Obese patients who sustain high-energy traumatic injuries often sustain orthopedic injuries to the pelvis or lower extremities.
Obese orthopedic trauma patients may be at higher risk for nerve injuries secondary to positioning, intraoperative complications, loss of reduction after surgery, increased intraoperative estimated blood loss, and increased operative times (Lazar MA).