Technological Innovations in Trauma Care: A New Era of Patient Treatment

The care of injured patients continually evolves, with new techniques and materials leading to improved outcomes. Since 1976, when the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma (COT) published Optimal Hospital Resources for Care of the Seriously Injured (ACS, 1976) to the current edition of Optimal Care of the Injured Patient (ACS, 2022), guidelines utilizing evidence-based practice have facilitated the safe, effective care of patients experiencing injury.

The guidelines have benefited patients, but as we continue to progress, technology is gaining a stronger foothold in the care of the trauma patient, leading to more efficient, faster, and effective care, decreasing the risks of long-term effects from trauma.

The following will provide a high-level overview of technologies available to improve the care of patients with traumatic injuries.

There are approximately 6 million deaths annually attributed to trauma worldwide (Rossiter, 2022). This is more than other infectious diseases combined.

Trauma has been referred to as “The forgotten pandemic (Rossiter, 2022), and resources must be developed and applied to diminish the impact of this disease.

Technology has been a part of trauma care since the development of X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and other tools to diagnose and treat injured patients. We are on the cusp of greater improvements as access to technology increases, enabling providers worldwide to collaborate to improve care.

Some of these technologies are shared below:

The improvement in telemedicine technology has benefitted patients in rural facilities and large Level I academic Trauma Centers. The physician's ability to utilize telemedicine supports providers in rural facilities by linking specialists to support the treatment of patients and providing guidance to stabilize or treat patients before transferring them. In some cases, telemedicine will enable patients to stay in their local facilities, increasing capacity at larger centers while keeping patients closer to home. Telemedicine can also be utilized for follow-up appointments, allowing patients to return to their homes sooner while still having access to the specialist.

1. Communication technology, including secure texting, imaging transfer platforms, and pre-hospital communication tools, has enabled providers to view images and communicate with paramedicine professionals and each other to ensure the patient is sent to the best facility to meet their needs.

Point-of-care ultrasound has provided improved access to take a “quick look” at patients, allowing the physician to evaluate the patient for acute life-threatening injury without waiting for CT or MRI availability.

1. This quick look allows the surgeon to rapidly decide whether the patient needs to be taken to the operating room emergently for life-saving surgery.

2. Improvements in surgical techniques, including the use of robotics and other minimally invasive techniques, have decreased time under anesthesia, surgical accuracy, decreased blood loss, decreased risk of infection, and decreased recovery time for patients. These improvements also decrease the overall length of stay, increasing the availability of hospital beds.

for providers but also providing valuable data to track outcomes, ultimately leading to improved care. (Davenport & Kalokota, 2022).

3. Rehabilitation technologies, like remote monitoring, “smart” prosthetics, sensor technologies to decrease pain and increase movement, and technology to improve

The use of technology for simulation training, including virtual reality, allows medical students, residents, pre[1]hospital professionals, and nurses to practice skills, experience treatment of complications, and plan patient care without experimenting on actual patients.

1. Simulation provides a realistic bridge between education in the classroom and actual patient care, increasing the safety and efficiency of the healthcare provider.

2. Artificial Intelligence is making inroads into healthcare, providing opportunities not only for patient care improvements by the development of protocols for diagnosis, treatment, and other decision support tools for providers but also providing valuable data to track outcomes, ultimately leading to improved care. (Davenport & Kalokota, 2022).

3. Rehabilitation technologies, like remote monitoring, “smart” prosthetics, sensor technologies to decrease pain and increase movement, and technology to improve cognitive function after brain injury, are creating opportunities for improved quality of life for injured patients.

The utilization of technology in the care of trauma patients is an ever-evolving opportunity to decrease injury (automotive safety technology, wearable tech, etc.), improve care when injury occurs, and return patients to optimal function during the rehabilitation and post-rehab period. As healthcare leaders, it is important to be aware of the opportunities available and make decisions based on the needs of patients and providers to provide safe, effective, optimal care for trauma patients.