Plastic surgery shows increasing significance and a widening field of practice in the emergency room, according to a new study from Turkey. The findings make sense since many plastic surgeons are trained in reconstruction techniques.
Progresses in microsurgery and their adaptation to trauma surgery have contributed considerably to the increasing significance of plastic and reconstructive surgery in trauma surgery, according to the researchers.
The study evaluated characteristics such as age, gender and type of injury for 10,732 patients who were admitted to the outpatient clinic of Emergency Plastic Surgery in Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital between 2000 and 2004. There were more male patients compared to females by a ratio of 4:1, and 22.9 years was the mean age of all patients.
The most common injuries for patients at the plastic surgery clinic were:
- Forearm and hand injuries (64%)
- Maxillofacial injuries (28%)
- Tissue defects (8%)
Most of the upper extremity injuries were due to glassware cuts (33%), and 76% of these injuries were self-inflicted trauma due to the patient punching glass during a bout of aggression! Head-and-neck injuries were most frequently caused by traffic accidents.
The researchers noted that a multidisciplinary approach in the E.R. was most critical for trauma patients, with a main team that is usually made up of a trauma surgeon, neurosurgeon and orthopedist, but that â??plastic surgeons have a significant role, particularly in the treatment of an important group of patients with critical injuries.â?
The study, The practice of plastic surgery in emergency trauma surgery, is available through Pubmed.
Dr. Jonov is a cosmetic surgeon who specializes in plastic surgeries of the face, breast, and body at Seattle Plastic Surgery.
