[Long-term results after polytrauma]

Rehabilitation treatment, which is necessary in the majority of polytrauma patients, is long-lasting and even after several years the final result is frequently not reached yet. Our study is the first in which a population of 510 patients were followed up for 10 years and more and in which many clinical and social parameters were determined. Our study showed that even after a period of 10 years and more the quality of life in several patients is still obviously impaired, according to the parametes "financial losses", "decreased net income", "loss of social services", "credit loan" and "loss of friends". In our study, differences according to financial and professional perspectives between injuries of the lower and upper extremities or combination injuries of the extremities were statistically significant. For the everyday clinic it is important to reintegrate children and young patients into a strong social network because there is a higher percentage of young patients who are socially impaired, even many years after trauma. Adult patients should get strong support to return to their original profession and financial status.