New Challenges in Trauma Surgery Care of the paediatric, geriatric and pregnant patient.

Trauma surgery originated with military surgeons who cared for otherwise healthy young males injured in combat. During the past two decades, many areas of the United States have established trauma systems, organised to sift seriously injured patients of all ages to trauma centres that have the medical personnel and equipment needed to provide immediate trauma care. The organisation of trauma care has greatly increased the experience of civilian surgeons based at designated trauma centres, and has lead to a recognition of three 'special care' areas of trauma surgery: paediatric trauma, geriatric trauma, and trauma during pregnancy.