Decisions in severe extremity trauma

Advances in the management of severe extremity trauma have allowed treatment of injuries previously resulting in amputation or death. The variety of new techniques and technologies available to the orthopedic traumatologist and the trauma team can lead to functional salvage of limbs if crucial management decisions are made correctly in the course of treatment. Accurate knowledge of the potentials and pitfalls of extremity trauma treatment can help to identify salvageable limbs, as well as those doomed to failure so that costly and painful courses of futile treatment can be avoided.