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The definition of polytrauma: the need for international consensus

Nerida Butcher1, Zsolt J Balogh

  • 1Department of Traumatology, Division of Surgery, John Hunter Hospital and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.

Injury
|November 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A universally accepted definition for polytrauma is lacking, hindering research comparisons. Establishing a consensus definition for polytrauma is crucial for advancing trauma care and multicenter trials.

Area of Science:

  • Trauma Care Research
  • Medical Definitions
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Polytrauma patient care is a key focus in trauma research.
  • A standardized definition of polytrauma is essential for comparing data and multicenter studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and evaluate existing definitions of "polytrauma" in published literature.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was performed from January 1950 to August 2008.
  • Databases searched included Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library using the keyword "polytrauma".
  • Articles were reviewed for definitions of polytrauma, supplemented by online resources and medical dictionaries.

Main Results:

  • Out of 1,665 publications mentioning polytrauma, only 47 provided a definition.
  • Eight distinct groups of definitions were identified, highlighting a lack of uniformity.
  • No existing definition is validated or supported by evidence higher than Level 4.

Conclusions:

  • The review highlights a significant lack of a validated or consensus definition for polytrauma.
  • The international trauma community should collaborate to establish a consensus definition.
  • A validated consensus definition would provide a foundation for future polytrauma research.
Abstract

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