Traumatology

In medicine, traumatology (from Greek trauma, meaning injury or wound) is the study of wounds and injuries caused by accidents or violence to a person, and the surgical therapy and repair of the damage. Traumatology is a branch of medicine. It is often considered a subset of surgery and in countries without the specialty of trauma surgery it is most often a sub-specialty to orthopedic surgery. Traumatology may also be known as accident surgery.

Contents

• Patient Assessment
• Wound assessment
• References

Branches of traumatology:

Branches of traumatology include medical traumatology and psychological traumatolgy. Medical Traumatology can be defined as the study of specializing in the treatment of wounds and injuries caused by violence or general accidents. This type of traumatology focuses on the surgical procedures and future physical therapy a patients need to repair the damage and recover properly. Psychological traumatology is a type of damage to one’s mind due to a distressing event. This type of trauma can also be the result of overwhelming amounts of stress in one’s life. Psychological trauma usually involves some type of physical trauma that poses as a threat to one’s sense of security and survival. Psychological trauma often leaves people feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and threatened (Emotional and Psychological Trauma).

Types of trauma:

When it comes to types of trauma, medical and psychological traumatology go hand in hand. Types of trauma include car accidents, gunshot wounds, concussions, PTSD from incidents, etc. Medical traumas are repaired with surgeries, however they can still cause psychological trauma and other stress factors. For example, a teenager in a car accident who broke their wrist needed extensive surgery to save their arm. It is possible for that child to get anxiety when driving in a car post accident. PTSD can be diagnosed after a person experiences one or more intense and traumatic events and react with fear with complaints from three categorical symptoms lasting one month or longer. These categories are: re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoiding anything associated with the trauma, and increased symptoms of increased psychological arousal (Bellis, M.D. p. 555).

Guidelines for essential trauma care:

Airway management, monitoring, and management of injuries are all key guidelines when it comes to medical trauma care. Airway management is a key component of emergency on-scene care. Using a systematic approach, first responders must access that a patient’s airway is not blocked in order to reinsure the patient gets enough circulation and remain as calm as they can (Mock, C. p, 19). Monitoring patients and making sure their body does not go into shock is another essential guideline when it comes to medical trauma care. Nurses are required to watch over patients and check blood-pressure, heart rate, etc. to make sure that patients are doing well and are not crashing. When it comes to managing injuries, head and neck injures require the most care post surgery. Head-injuries are one of the major causes of trauma related death and disabilities worldwide. It is important for patients of head trauma to get CT scans post surgery to insure that there are no problems (Mock, C. p. 28-30).

Guidelines for Psychological trauma care:

There are many different types of care in order to help people overcome the anxiety and stress that comes with psychological trauma. According to the American Psychological Association, professional psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology. There are many different branches of psychology that cater to any person’s needs. The most popular branch of psychology for people who suffer from psychological trauma is cognitive psychology and clinical psychology. If a person isn’t ready to seek help just yet, they can make efforts to exercise more and socialize with a group of people they feel safe with. Trauma disturbs the body’s natural equilibrium which can put your body in a state of fear and hyper-arousal (Emotional and Psychological Trauma). Exercising for 30 minutes a day allows your nervous system to unfreeze from a traumatic state. Being surrounded by a good support system and not isolating yourself is a huge factor when it comes to treating psychological trauma. Participating in social activities, volunteering, and making new friends are all ways to help forget about or cope with traumatic events that have taken place. One of the hardest things to do when it comes to overcoming psychological trauma is simply resolving the events that one has been avoiding. (Emotional and Psychological Trauma).

When to seek professional help: It is time to seek professional help if one is still suffering from severe anxiety, having nightmares or flashbacks, experiencing an increase in alcohol and drug use. The best way for a patient to find a psychologist or a trauma therapist is to contact their insurance company. When seeking professional help, it is very important for the patient to mesh well and feel comfortable with their psychologist in order to get the best results.